Hey, let me ask you something. Do you really think Gabrielle Union would let her own child transition at 12? People are talking about how she encouraged her stepdaughter, Dwayne Wade’s daughter Zaya, to transition at such a young age. Some are even saying her motives might have been questionable, especially since Zaya’s birth mother, Siovaughn Funches Wade, specifically wanted Zaya to wait until she was 18 to make that decision.
So, what could have driven Gabby and Dwayne to support Zaya’s transition? Imagine being the real mom and wanting your kids to make their own choices, but then your ex and his new wife are pushing your child to transition now, possibly for something like a Disney contract. We all know how Disney is with kids; just think about what that means for trans kids. Zaya first came out as gay before she identified as trans, and her father, Dwayne Wade, even went to the Los Angeles County Superior Court to have her name legally changed, just as she wanted.
Remember, Dwayne had already talked a few times about Zia’s decision to transition, saying he fully supported it. Early on, Zia sat down with us as a family and said, “Hey, I don’t think I’m gay. I identify as a young lady.” She’d known this for nine years, which is amazing considering how young she was when she first understood her feelings. But that’s what Zia’s dad emphasized. As Zia found more ways to express herself, she told us about her identity, her sexuality, and that she was trans. She said, “I’ve come out a few times.”
It gets even more interesting. While Zia’s birth mother wanted her to wait until she turned 18 to make that decision, Gab encouraged her to decide whenever she felt ready and openly supported her choice. “For her to see so many members of her community, of our community, that she’s looked up to, that have inspired her, that have supported her, is pretty huge. There aren’t many moments as a parent where I get to deliver that.” Gabrielle even said in several interviews that she has never felt more connected to anyone else like she feels connected to Zia.
I’m not sure what she meant by that, but some people find it offensive, especially considering that Gab knew exactly how Zia’s birth mother felt about the transition. It’s been said that Gabrielle allegedly kept Zia away from her birth mother and disregarded her opinion about the decision to transition. Zia’s birth mother had claimed that Dwayne pressured their child to proceed with the name and gender change for financial gain. She believed that Zia should wait until she turned 18 to decide on legally changing her name, let alone her gender. She expressed these concerns in a petition, stating, “He told me a lot of money had already been made and more would come from our child’s name and gender issue. Wade said he planned to make our child very famous because of this issue, and also mentioned endorsements and SLC contracts.”
Now, let me ask you something. How many opportunities has Zia secured since transitioning? Quite a few, right? But does that mean her birth mother was right in suggesting that Gabrielle and Dwayne encouraged the transition solely for endorsements? Also, consider this: apart from Zia, Dwayne has other children, yet Gabrielle rarely acknowledges them. It’s as if they don’t exist. Could it be that she doesn’t care because they can’t be used for publicity?
Furthermore, Zia’s birth mother mentioned that due to Dwayne’s high-profile status as a professional athlete, their children’s lives have been highly publicized. Dwayne has appeared on national TV and in media reports regarding their child’s name and gender change. Zia’s birth mother expressed concerns about their child being commercialized at such a young age, the potential negative consequences of media exposure, misinterpreted statements, and the unwanted attention focused on Zia.
Many people expected Gabrielle to understand the situation as a mother. Instead of addressing Zia’s birth mother’s concerns, she focused on expressing pride in Zia and supporting her decision. It was reported that Gabrielle, like Dwayne, felt that Zia’s birth mother was being self-centered. In response to Siobhan’s petition, Dwayne expressed disappointment, saying, “While it’s no surprise Siobhan is trying to challenge my child’s identity and tarnish my reputation, it’s truly disappointing to see her continuously put herself first without considering our children.”
Dwayne also argued that since Zia’s mother had been absent from her life, she had no right to influence Zia’s decisions. He said, “Siobhan has chosen to be absent from Zia’s life. I won’t sit back and let her undermine my commitment to our family. I’ve taken the high road long enough.” There was speculation that Dwayne consulted Gabrielle before releasing his statement criticizing Zia’s birth mother, suggesting Gabrielle played a role in shaping his response. Critics argued that if Gabrielle valued Siobhan’s opinion, she would have respected Siobhan’s desire for Zia to wait until she turned 18 before making such a life-changing decision.
In addition to criticism from Zia’s birth mother, Gabrielle also faced backlash for defending Zia’s decision to transition at a young age, especially from figures like Boosie. Boosie commented, “I have to speak on this, Dwayne Wade, you’ve gone too far. That’s a 12-year-old boy. At 12, they don’t even know what they want for dinner. They haven’t figured it all out yet. He might meet a girl at 16 and fall in love with her, but he won’t have his manhood. How do you…”
Gab didn’t just call out Boosie for his thoughts on Zia transitioning early; she also hinted that he might be hiding something. “He seems so fixated on it, almost like he’s trying too hard to convince himself,” she noted. “It’s like Zia and Lil Nas X are constantly on his mind. Maybe there’s something he wants to share with us in this safe space.”
Jaguar Wright also faced accusations of jealousy over her outspoken opinions on the Wade family’s situation. But she feels vindicated now that her predictions about them seem to be coming true. “She’s like the black Kris Jenner. She didn’t force her husband into anything he didn’t want; that’s why they’re divorcing,” Jaguar claimed. She also called out Diddy on Twitter for his reaction to rumors about Dwayne Wade’s divorce, suggesting hypocrisy.
As for the divorce rumors themselves, they’ve been circulating for months, fueled by sightings of Dwayne Wade with different women. One particular sighting of him engaged in a lengthy conversation with an unnamed woman only added more fuel to the fire. There’s also been speculation that Gabrielle Union’s acceptance of Zia’s choices might be influenced by her own rumored agreement with Dwayne, allowing him to explore certain aspects of himself through Zia.
Like I mentioned earlier, when my wife and I exchanged looks, it was because of something from my childhood. Back then, I used to try on heels and copy what my sisters did. You know those stories about what happens at the Wade house? Just recently, an artist I spoke to was invited to a party there. Everything seemed normal upfront, but when they went to the back, they found a group of older and younger boys, all naked.
To many, the rumored fake marriage might explain why Gab seemed okay with supporting Zia’s decision to transition. But putting that aside, what’s your perspective on Zia’s journey? Do you think Gabrielle and Dwayne only encouraged Zia to transition because of endorsements? Can you see how Dwayne might be projecting his own desires onto Zia? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
