Dwyane Wade supports trans daughter after attacks from Twitter trolls

Dwyane Wade continues to show why he’s America’s Dad for our time.

In a series of tweets Wednesday, the three-time NBA champion vociferously defended his transgender daughter, Zaya, after a user had belittled their family.

The user posted a picture of Wade walking with Zaya and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, asking for everyone’s thoughts on the photograph — without that “politically correct B.S.”

As our own Karleigh Webb points out, Wade looks cool in his kilt — and orange headwear, I might add — while Zaya’s hair looks awesome and Union is stunning, as always. The picture encapsulates love and affection. It is what every family should strive to represent.

Wade said the ignorant blowback only brings them closer together. “Hey social media keep the hate coming,” he wrote. “It will only make the love stronger. #LoveWins.”

Wade also retweeted several messages of support, including one from author George M. Johnson, who says “Black queer kids being loved unconditionally is the only chance we have at true liberation.”

His words are poignant, especially in the midst of our nationwide racial reckoning.

Since retiring, Wade has emerged as a powerful LGBTQ advocate, and the definition of a true ally. He’s been publicly supportive of Zaya through every step of her journey — from sharing photos of her attendance at Miami Beach Pride to talking about the importance of using proper pronouns. In an interview earlier this year with Ellen Degeneres, Wade spoke about their family’s support for Zaya, who came out as transgender at 12 years old.

“We are proud — and when I say proud, we are proud — parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies as well,” he said. “We take our roles and our responsibilities as parents very seriously. So when our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, when a child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen, to give them the best information we can, the best feedback that we can, and that doesn’t change because sexuality is not involved in it.”

Later in the conversation, Wade said he’s encouraging Zaya to use her voice and become a leader. “Once Zaya came home and said, ‘Hey I want you to call me Zaya and I’m ready to take on this,’ I looked at her and said, ‘You are a leader. You are a leader and this is our opportunity to allow you to be a voice,’” Wade shared.

With the NBA and WNBA dedicating their seasons to racial justice and Black Lives Matter, Wade and Union’s unwavering support of Zaya has never been more powerful. They are truly spreading a message of equality.