In an appearance on the most recent episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dwayne Wade opened about his 12-year-old daughter Zaya coming out as transgender.

“First of all, me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re proud allies as well,” the former NBA star told Ellen. “We take our roles and our responsibilities as parents very seriously.”

Check out the touching interview below:

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He continued, “When our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, when our child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can. And that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.”

Explaining his daughter's story, Wade said Zaya was “born as a boy” and was “originally named Zion.” But when she was ready, Zaya came out to her father and stepmother, Union.

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"[She] said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I’m ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,’” the former Miami Heat player recalled. “Now it’s our job to one, go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship that we have."

Wade then repeated the words of support and encouragement he shared with his daughter.

"I said, ‘You are a leader. You are a leader, and this is an opportunity to allow you to be a voice'. Right now it’s through us because she’s 12-years-old, but eventually it will be through her."

Wade shares daughters Zaire, 18, and Zaya with his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches, six-year-old son Xavier with Aja Metoyer and a 15-month-old daughter Kaavia with Union.

Dwyane Wade has opened up about the emotional moment his daughter Zaya told him she was transgender at the age of 12.

The former NBA star, 39, describes Zaya as "one of the greatest teachers of my life."

During an Instagram Live interview with Today, the retired basketball star talked about his upbringing, his NBA career, and his efforts to be the best possible parent to his kids.

Ahead of his new photographic memoir Dwyane, which was released this week, the former athlete opened up about the pivotal moment he had as a parent when Zaya broke the news to him.

Wade said he approached the news the same way he would if he needed to fix something in his basketball game.

Asking for help, he recalled: "If I don't know something in this life, especially if it comes from my children, then it's my job to go and learn these things," he said.

Credit: INSTAR Images LLC / Alamy

In addition to Zaya, who is now 14, Wade is a father to two sons, Zaire, 19, and Xavier, 8, and daughter, Kaavia, 3. He also helped raise his nephew, Dahveon Morris, 20.

Wade said he and wife Gabrielle Union - who is Zaya's stepmother - have helped the teenager celebrate being her authentic self and have been powerful allies to the LGBTQ community, especially since they know they are speaking for her.

What's more, he says that he tells Zaya to "educate me and let me know". He added: "She said, 'I thank you and if there's anything that comes up, I'll definitely let you know.'"

Dwyane Wade with wife Gabrielle Union. Credit: dpa picture alliance / Alamy

"Zaya is more than that," Wade said. "Zaya is a 14-year-old amazing girl, who since she stepped into her classroom on day one has never gotten lower than A."

He described his daughter as "a young kid who is trying to fit in with other kids at school, trying to get to the point where she is trying to date."

"She's my daughter. She's beautiful and she has so many other great qualities that she is tapping into that everyone is starting to see," he added.

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Dwayne Wade's ex-wife is reportedly objecting to their daughter legally changing their name and gender.

In a petition filed on Tuesday (November 1), Siovaughn Funches-Wade claimed that the former NBA star is "positioned to profit" from the change and that he "may be pressuring" their child into it, as reported by PEOPLE.

Wade first opened up about his 15-year-old daughter coming out as transgender in 2020. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 40-year-old father explained that his child had changed their name to Zaya and decided to go by she/her pronouns.

Watch the full interview below:

However, his ex-wife apparently believes that Wade does not have Zaya's best interests at heart. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Funches-Wade thinks that he is trying to use their child's transition to win marketing deals and brand contracts.

The documents were filed in the Superior Court of California as an objection to Wade's initial plea to legally change Zaya's name.

They claimed the former athlete was: "Positioned to profit from the minor child's name and gender change with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including but not limited to deals with Disney."

Dwayne and Zaya Wade. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Funches-Wade went on to allege: "I have concerns that [Dwyane] may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies."

"[Wade] told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith," she continued.

Dwayne Wade and Siohvaugh Funches-Wade. Credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alam

The mom is asking the court that Zaya delay legally changing her name and gender until she turns 18 in two and a half years' time.

She added that "there will likely be media pressure on the minor child" to make the change - and that she should therefore wait until she is "the age of majority".

Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. Credit: AFF / Alamy

This is not the first time Funches-Wade has clashed with her ex-husband in court. In 2010, she filed a lawsuit claiming that he had caused her and their children emotional distress through his relationship with Gabrielle Union. The charges were quickly dismissed.

Featured Image Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

12-year-old Zaya Wade has made her red carpet debut, after father Dwyane Wade and stepmother Gabrielle Union recently revealed that she identifies as transgender.

Zaya made her debut at the sixth annual Truth Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday accompanied by former NBA all-star Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union, and her proud father took to Instagram to hail the moment with a heartfelt message.

Watch Dwyane Wade talking about Zaya in this interview:

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Wade wrote on Instagram;

"Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself, her name is Zaya Wade!

"Last night was Zaya's first red carpet and we couldn't have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her. She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community,"

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And the former Miami Heat shooting guard posted another adorable photo of the trio to his Instagram page, captioning the candid snap;

"Zaya how does that custom @richfresh feel??? Last night was a dope experience for our family. Thank you to @betterbrothersla and the #truthawards for recognizing our good friends @jasonbolden @adair_curtis with the Bussiness Leadership Award. The Truth Awards was created to recognize and highlight the accomplishments of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies. In doing so, they increase the awareness of there contributions to Society, Popular Culture and the Arts, and help refocus the lens through which they are seen. The Truth Awards also provides funding for scholarships that supports educational opportunities for youth in the LGBTQ+ community! ✊??"

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And Gabrielle Union shared another photo of herself with husband Dwyane and Zaya, writing;

"Big night at the #TruthAwards2020 to celebrate our friends @jasonbolden @adair_curtis receiving the Business Leadership Award. We are incredibly proud of them and grateful for their presence, love & light in ourselves. @richfresh kept us FRESHHHHH in custom suits and @lorraineschwartz laced us with gorgeous jewels for the special occasion. It was an EPIC night filled with so much love & a real sense of community. It was important for Zaya to be a part of such a beautiful night & reminding her of all the love & support she has. We were moved to tears so many times throughout the night. So much gratitude ❤??"

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When Dwyane Wade spoke to Ellen Degeneres in a recent interview, he revealed that the Wades were taking steps to educate themselves about the LGBTQ community, "we're just trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self," he told the talk show host.

Dwyane Wade has opened up about his journey of self-reflection and personal growth in his approach to parenting and understanding masculinity. This came about after his daughter, Zaya, opened up to him about her identity as a transgender person.

Speaking at the Creative Artists Agency Amplify event in Ojai, California, the former NBA superstar had a heartfelt conversation with fellow NBA star Chris Paul and manager Lisa Metelus, per NBC News.

When asked about the moment Zaya came out to him as transgender, Wade confessed that he had been preparing himself for a similar conversation ever since Zaya referred to herself as "gay" in a school assignment at the age of eight.

Wade, who is married to actress Gabrielle Union, vividly recalls the moment. He said, "So I came home and I just remember my child being scared to talk to me, like hiding in my wife’s arm in a chair." Despite considering himself a 'cool dad', he noticed fear in Zaya's eyes.

Zaya Wade, Kaavia James Union Wade, Gabrielle Union, and Dwyane Wade attend the Premiere of Disney's Cheaper By The Dozen on March 16, 2022. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty

This prompted Wade to introspect. "I had to go look myself in the mirror and ask myself: ‘Why was my child scared? Scared to tell me something about herself?’" He admitted that he realized the need to listen more attentively, not only to Zaya but also to experts on the matter.

Reflecting on his previous parenting style, Wade shared, "In a lot of work as parents — and as people — what we do is we put our fears and everything on our kids. And I guess I was doing that."

He added, "So I had to go look myself in the mirror and ask myself... What is it about my masculinity that has my child afraid?"

Despite typically maintaining a private stance about his family on social media, Wade faced public scrutiny after posting a Thanksgiving photo which included Zaya, sporting a crop top and acrylic nails. The reaction was, as Wade recounts, swift and intense.

"The world went crazy," Wade said, revealing how he immediately adopted a protective stance for his child, despite still having "so much" to learn himself. One of the toughest obstacles for the family was handling the public’s "miseducation."

Wade humorously mentioned that he was labeled as gay for supporting his daughter's identity. He went on to joke about the pink nail polish he was wearing.

He ended on a note of wisdom, saying, "I think the hardest part about it is shutting out the world and shutting out the people that really are not in (our) circle. But they have opinions and we are a public-facing family."

Featured image credit: Ray Tamarra / Getty