Dwyane Wade And Daughter Zaya Launch Translatable In Support Of Trans Youth

“She wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is.”

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix

Dwyane Wade and daughter Zaya have come together to found Translatable, an organization that will serve as a safe space for trans youth, particularly for young trans people of color. The Daddy-daughter duo introduced Translatable to the masses Thursday (May 23) afternoon via social media.

“Translatable is also a resource hub for parents, families, and support systems of the LBGTQIA+ youth” Wade explained within the introductory Instagram clip. “For our family, we were blessed to have a community of supporters, and knowledgeable experts who could swiftly arm us with the tools we needed to support Zaya and her journey….I’m so very proud of the daughter I’ve had the opportunity to raise. She has been my biggest educator and inspiration and what it means to be true to you.”

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Thursday evening, Wade was honored with the Catalyst Award at the Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit, where he further spoke of the organization’s origin, and it truly being Zaya’s own passion project.

“The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?’,” Wade recalled, as per ESPN. “And, for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us. And so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: (L-R) Dwyane Wade and Zaya Wade attend When We Gather: A Night of Stand-Up Comedy Curated by Dwyane Wade during Netflix is a Joke Fest at The Miracle Theater on May 09, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix)

Wade plans to put the $250K in funding received for the Catalyst Award towards the organization, adding that its goal is to “support growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”

The NBA champ was also praised by Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcìa Jayaram for launching the organization on Florida, despite moving out of the state for the safety of his family.

“We understand that in this state that not everyone thinks the way some others think,” Wade said. “Like most things in life, once you get to know them, you have more ability to be understanding. And so if you don’t want to know them, then you stay ignorant in a sense.”

Zaya, who turns 17 on May 29th, came out as transgender in 2020.

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