Dwyane Wade Files Legal Petition To Change His Daughter Zaya's Name And Gender

'NBA' star Dwayne Wade is asking a court to officially change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, Zaya.

According to legal documents from The Blast, Wade is asking a Los Angeles County Court judge to make the transition official and change his child's name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.

NBA Star Petition’s Court To Change Name And Gender Of 15-Year-Old Daughter

As we've reported, Wade's 15-year-old daughter is transgender, and the basketball star has publicly addressed the situation several times. They should note that because Zaya is under 18 years old, her father is the one who has to ask the court for the change officially.

Under the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, Wade has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition, the document reads, per the outlet.

Dwyane and Siohvaughn were married from 2002 to 2010 and had two kids together: Zaya and Zaire Wade, 20. In addition, the documents detailed the request to have Zaya's gender reflect females legally.

The court filing comes just over two years after Dwyane publicly revealed to the world that Zaya came out to her parents as transgender.

In February 2020, Dwyane appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss the heartfelt moment when Zaya asked Dwyane and her stepmom Gabrielle Union to call her by her new name. We are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies, the former pro basketball player told Ellen. We take our roles and responsibilities as parents very seriously.

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Dwyane Wade Addresses Situation With Transgender Daughter

As you know, Wade confirmed and addressed his daughter's desire to change on 'The Ellen Show saying Zaya had begun using she/her pronouns. Our 12-year-old came home and said, Hey, I want to talk to you guys, then asked to be called Zaya. Additionally, We’re just trying to figure out as much information as possible to ensure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.

Following the conversation, Wade admitted it is hard, considering lawmakers across the country continue to restrict the rights of transgender youth. We live this, and Wade told TIME Magazine. When you are out there making rules, if you were not experiencing this, come and live a day with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her.

As blessed as it is for my daughter to have parents who can support her, I'm still afraid whenever she leaves the house. And not just because of gun violence but because of how people perceive her in this world.

The multi-millionaire athlete admitted he is stunned by his daughter's confidence in this area, saying she went years without telling my chef that she wouldn't say I like cilantro on my burger as an adult; it took me years to have the confidence to say. My daughter confidently said This is who I am at eight years old.