Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union received the President’s Award at the 54th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday (Feb. 25). The couple took time to honor their teen daughter, Zaya Wade, for her bravery and boldness to live authentically.
“We don’t stand up here alone,” Dwyane told attendees at the awards ceremony. “As we know, it takes a village, it takes a community,” the celebrity father shared. “We stand up here today as two people who have worked tirelessly to have resources and access. As two people willing to use our microphones for what we believe and what other families are going through,” Wade said during his acceptance speech.
“I’m intentional when I use my platform,” the retired NBA player said. “I recognize what I’ve been given and it is my job to uplift the voices of others and share my access and resources.”
Dwyane transitioned to his daughter, Zaya Wade, who came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in 2019. “Zaya, as your father, all I’ve wanted to do is get it right,” Wade shared with his teen. “I have sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on the public scrutiny. And even though it’s not easy, I’ve watched you walk out of the house every morning as yourself.”
Zaya Wade has advocated for herself and other transgender teens regardless of the threats she has received online. “Once I came out, there was a lot of hateful comments about how I should grow my hair out long or fit into a certain version of femininity, even though that’s not true at all,” Zaya said during a recent interview with PEOPLE. “That kind of advice is just trying to break you, but don’t let it,” she advised her peers.
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“I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world,” Dwyane Wade told his daughter during his NAACP Award acceptance speech. “To say that your village is proud of you is an understatement,” the celebrity father continued.
“Thank you for showing me that there is more than just one way to communicate you’ve taught me that communicating with my mouth isn’t enough. I have to communicate with my ears and my two eyes. As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future. My role is to be a facilitator to your wishes, your hopes, and your dreams.”
“Zaya you’ve made me a better human by simply being who you were born to be: our baby girl, Zaya Wade. Thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I am proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father.”
Photo: Zaya Wade/Instagram
