Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, support 15-year-old Zaya Wade changing his name and gender but not his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade. Siohvaughn isn’t in support of Zaya’s name and gender change, as she is fighting against it and doing everything in her power to stop it until she’s 18 years.
In light of the above, Dwyane Wade had to trash Siohvaughn for trying to frustrate the process of Zaya legally changing his name and gender. According to the Daily Mail;
Dwyane Wade said his transgender daughter Zaya, 15, should be legally permitted to change her name and gender, amid an attempt from his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade to block the move.
Wade, 40, said that Funches-Wade’s opposition to a court petition to allow Zaya the legal changes was ‘libelous’ and ‘nonsensical,’ TMZ reported after reviewing court docs in the cast Tuesday.
Funches-Wade told the court earlier this month that the NBA alum was looking to finically exploit Zaya’s story amid business opportunities with companies including Disney.
Wade, who played for the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls during his career, told the court that it was in the ‘best interest’ of Zaya to approve the petition.
He said that ‘a court order affirming her identity will allow Zaya to live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life – from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver’s license and filling out college applications.’
Wade said the ‘petition is about allowing Zaya to take on the milestones of being a young adult with confidence and joy.’
Wade’s lawyers added, ‘Siohvaughn’s allegations are libelous at their core, and are, at best, nonsensical. Dwyane filed this Petition because Zaya asked him to.’
In August, Wade filed a petition to allow Zaya to legally change her gender, and name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya has been going by the name of Zaya for two years.
Funches-Wade previously said in court docs that she believed Wade ‘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 took to Instagram earlier this month in response to the legal battle, saying, ‘Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame.
‘While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children.’
Wade said that Funches-Wade is an ‘absent parent’ who has made little effort to raise Zaya.
‘She has not been to a school, recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent teacher conference etc and Zaya has given her every opportunity to try to get to know her,’ Wade said.
It can’t be denied that Zaya has become of the face of a young generation of trans teenagers and has profit from that, but it sincerely seems like this is what she has wanted her entire life.
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