Former basketball superstar Dwyane Wade says he’s “damn proud” of his 16-year-old daughter Zaya as the pair launch a digital “safe space” for trans youth. The platform aims to support transgender people of colour and their families, as well as providing LGBTQ+ youth with a “safe space” to express themselves. will allow queer young people to submit poetry, photography or art, as well as providing educational resources for families of LGBTQ+ children.
In a for the trans-inclusive site, Zaya Wade said the platform will help “centre the most marginalised”. Her father expressed his pride in Zaya, who publicly came out as trans in 2020 when she was 12 years old. Since then, because of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state.
“She didn’t ask for this extra excitement in life,” former Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne told . “She just wanted to be a kid, do kid things and live her life and be selfish and worry about herself. That’s what you’re supposed to do at her age, worry about you.
“But she’s thinking about a larger community, so I’m damn proud of her.” The pair launched Translatable on Thursday (23 May) after Dwyane was presented with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award for his . “This is a Wade family award,” he said.
“This is just part of the Wade family, all the things that we do. To make the world a better place, you have to have acceptance.” The award, which has previously been won by education activist Malala Yousafzai and actors.
