'We would not be accepted or feel comfortable there': NBA legend Dwyane Wade reveals his family fled Florida because his transgender daughter no longer felt safe under the state's anti-LGBTQ policies

Wade's legacy in the state is undeniable having played 15 seasons for the Miami Heat helping to win three NBA championships. He also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls during his career.

He filed a petition in August to allow Zaya to legally change her gender, and name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. 

She has been going by the name of Zaya for two years. 

Zaya has been fully supported by Wade and stepmother Union, 50, who have championed the up-and-coming model ever since she came out as transgender.

Her birth mother launched a petition to stop her transgender child from legally changing her name and gender claiming that Zaya was being pressured financially to make the decision. 

That petition failed after Wade argued in court that he had the 'full authority' to 'make decisions on behalf' of Zaya when he was awarded custody of his two children in 2011 after they divorced.

Zaya has since launched a major career for herself as a model and has become a budding social media star - gaining more than 603,000 followers on her Instagram account. 

Championing their daughter: Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union accepted the President's Award for their support of the LGBTQ+ community in February 

 Zaya was later seen in a chic blazer and Prada loafers at the Miu Miu show afterparty in March

Dwyane Wade, Zaya Wade, and Gabrielle Union were snapped in LA in November 2021 

Wade explained that Zaya later told him and Union that she knew was transgender since she was three years old, but that it took years of doing 'research' for her to be able to voice it to her loved ones. 

In an interview with People, he said Zaya's transition gave him 'hope'. He first spoke of her transition in 2019 on Matt Barnes' podcast, All The Smoke.

'I had to look myself in the mirror. When my son at the time was three years old and me and my wife start having conversations about us noticing that he wasn't on the boy vibe that [older brother] Zaire was on.

'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?

'You're going to talk about strength and courage. My 12 year old has way more than I have. You can learn something from your kids. In our household, that's all we talk about. We talk about making sure our kids be seen by each of us. We want them to be whoever they feel they can be in this world. That's our goal.

'I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually has come into. 

'And for me, it's all about: Nothing changes with my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. So, all I had to do now is get smarter, educate myself more. And that's my job,' he said.