Despite Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife’s attempts to block the petition, their 15-year-old daughter Zaya has been legally granted a name and gender change
It’s a day to celebrate for Dwyane Wade and his family, especially his 15-year-old daughter Zaya—she was just granted an official name and gender change by a Los Angeles County judge after filing a petition all the way back in August of last year. Zaya is now officially and legally recognized as female, and her name is Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
Wade shares Zaya with his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches. The two were married for eight years before they divorced in 2010. Funches had previously filed to block Zaya’s petition to legally change her name and gender—in November of last year, she submitted an objection, saying, “I contend that our child should be given the opportunity to decide for themselves at the age of majority if they want to move forward with changing their name and/or gender.” She also accused Wade of using Zaya (and her brand partnerships) for profit.
Wade hit back with a statement of his own, writing on Instagram, “Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame. While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.”
Weeks later, Wade filed new documents in support of Zaya’s petition to change her name and gender.
“This Petition is not about Siohvaughn or Dwyane or their prior marriage, it is about what Zaya wants and what is in her best interest. This Petition is about empowering Zaya to live her truth,” the filing read, adding, “While it certainly would have been preferable for Zaya’s mother to be supportive of this important part of Zaya‘s journey, Zaya should not be forced to put her life on hold while she waits for Siohvaughn to acknowledge and accept her truth.”
Wade has always been publicly supportive of his daughter’s gender identity and transition. In a 2020 appearance on Ellen, he recalled when Zaya came out to him.
“Our (then) 12-year-old came home … and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth and I want to be referenced as she and her and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,'” he said. He added that at the time, his only priority was “trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.”
Congratulations, Zaya!
