People are still asking the same question: is Dwyane Wade's son gay? Honestly, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no because the story has evolved so much over the last few years. If you’ve been following the NBA legend or his wife, Gabrielle Union, you’ve probably seen the headlines. But the internet is a messy place, and a lot of the info out there is either outdated or just plain mixed up.
Basically, here is the deal. Dwyane Wade has a daughter named Zaya who is transgender. When she was much younger—around age 8—she actually did tell her family she was gay. That’s where a lot of the "is Dwyane Wade's son gay" searches probably started.
But as she grew up, Zaya realized that "gay" didn't quite cover how she felt. At age 12, she sat her parents down and told them she was a girl. She wanted to use she/her pronouns and go by the name Zaya.
The Evolution of Zaya Wade
It’s kinda wild to think about how much courage that takes. Imagine being 12 and telling a 3-time NBA champion father that you aren't the person he thought you were.
Dwyane has been super open about this. He admitted in interviews, like the one with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, that he had to check his own ego. He was the "alpha" basketball star, but his kid was the one showing him what real strength looked like.
Why People Are Still Confused
People get tripped up because Dwyane has other children too. He has an older son, Zaire, who played high-level basketball and looks a lot like his dad.
Then there’s Xavier and Kaavia.
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Because Zaya was born Zion, a lot of old articles and YouTube videos still use her birth name and old pronouns. If you’re clicking on a link from 2018, you’re going to get a completely different story than what’s happening in 2026.
Zaya is now 18. She’s a model. She’s an activist. She’s even worked with brands like Miu Miu and Tiffany & Co. She’s not "the gay son"—she is a young woman living her life.
How Dwyane Wade Handled the Transition
Dwyane didn't just wake up one day as a perfect ally. He’s been honest about the fact that he had to learn. Fast.
He and Gabrielle Union reached out to the cast of the show Pose to get educated. They didn't want to just guess how to be supportive; they wanted to actually understand the trans experience.
"I had to look myself in the mirror and say, 'What if your son comes home and tells you he's gay? What are you going to do?' It ain't about him. He knows who he is. It's about you. Who are you?" — Dwyane Wade on the All the Smoke podcast.
That quote is famous now, but it shows the mindset shift he had to go through. He realized his job wasn't to change his kid, but to change his own perspective.
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Legal Battles and Growth
It hasn't all been red carpets and Instagram likes, though. There was some serious family drama. Zaya’s biological mother, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, legally fought against Zaya’s name and gender change. She claimed Dwyane was "pressuring" the child for financial gain.
Dwyane didn't back down. He filed court documents saying the transition was about Zaya’s "truth" and her well-being, not money. In 2023, a judge officially granted the name and gender change.
By the time Zaya turned 18 in 2025, she was already a veteran of the public eye. She’s handled more "keyboard warriors" than most adults do in a lifetime.
The "Translatable" Project
If you want to see what the family is doing now, look up "Translatable."
It’s an online community Zaya launched (with her parents' support) to help other queer youth and their families. It’s basically the resource they wish they had when they were first starting this journey.
They use it to provide safe spaces for kids who might not have a pro athlete dad backing them up.
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What You Should Know If You're Following This
Look, the world moves fast. If you're still looking for "Dwyane Wade's son," you're looking for someone who doesn't exist in the way you think.
- Zaire Wade is Dwyane's eldest son. He’s a pro basketball player and has mostly stayed out of the sexuality conversation, focusing on his hoops career.
- Zaya Wade is his daughter. She identifies as a straight transgender girl (meaning she is a girl who is attracted to boys).
- The Support System: Gabrielle Union has been a massive part of this. She isn't Zaya's biological mom, but she’s been the fiercest protector Zaya could ask for.
It's pretty simple when you strip away the tabloid noise. A dad loves his kid. The kid grows up. The family stays together.
Actionable Takeaways for Parents and Allies
If you're reading this because you're trying to figure out how to support someone in your own life, here’s the "Wade Blueprint" for handling these conversations:
- Listen first. Dwyane says Zaya was his leader. Don't assume you know more about your kid's identity than they do.
- Educate yourself. Don't make the person coming out do all the work. Read books, watch documentaries, and find experts.
- Check your masculinity/biases. Dwyane had to ask himself why he was "scared" of his child's truth. Often, the parent's fear is about their own reputation, not the kid's safety.
- Protect the joy. The Wades focus on Zaya’s happiness, not just the "struggle" of being trans.
The Wades moved out of Florida recently because they felt the laws there weren't safe for Zaya. That’s a huge move. It shows that for them, this isn't a PR stunt or a "phase." It’s their life.
Whether you agree with their choices or not, you can't deny the commitment. They’ve chosen their child over the "traditional" expectations of the sports world. In 2026, that shouldn't be as controversial as it is, but here we are.
If you're still curious about the family's advocacy, checking out the Translatable Project is the best way to see their current work. It’s where they put their money and their time these days. No more guessing—just real work for the community.