Yahoo Home Zaya Wade, 12, talks about living life to the fullest after coming out as trans: 'It feels great'
Zaya Wade opened up about living her truth during her first red carpet interview, weeks after her father Dwyane Wade, announced that the 12-year-old is transgender.
“It feels great,” the preteen told Where is the Buzz TV at the Truth Awards on Sunday alongside Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union. “I feel like there was always something that was like I was meant to do, but I was never able to find it...I eventually just stopped looking for it and I think I found it.”
The event, which is put on by the Better Brothers organization of Los Angeles, honors black men and women in the LGBTQ community. Gabrielle explained that her family’s attendance was important to demonstrate that they’re allies. Wade added that it’s another part of the learning process for the parents of the LGBTQ child.
“We do not have all the answers, but us speaking out and so many others speaking out, it allows for others to be educated, it allows the narrative to change,” Dwyane explained. “The more we speak on things, the more we talk about things, so that’s all we’re doing. As we’re becoming educated, we’re trying to educate. So that’s a part of us being allies.”
As for those who identify with the LGBTQ community, Zaya said it’s most important that everyone can “experience life to the fullest.”
“I think that really includes knowing who you are truly and being able to show other people who you are,” she continued, “and that’s just what it’s all about.”
Just last month, Zaya shared that same message in a heart-to-heart with her dad, which was shared on Union’s Twitter. “What's the point of being on this earth if you're going to try to be someone you're not?” Zaya questioned at the time. “Just be true to yourself.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Zaya Wade, 12, makes her red carpet debut weeks after publicly coming out as trans
Dwyane Wade reveals his parenting fears: ‘You don’t want to mess up'
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