Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife has asked a judge to block Wade from allowing their trans daughter, Zaya, to change her name and gender on her birth certificate. Siohvaughn Funches-Wade claims the retired basketball star is taking advantage of Zaya’s transgender identity for financial gain.
Funches-Wade objected to Wade’s petition for recognition of Zaya’s gender change and the issuance of a new birth certificate. Since Zaya is only 15 years old, it’s necessary to have parental permission to obtain a court order granting the changes.
Celebrity news site the Blastreports that Funches-Wade claims her ex-husband is trying to circumvent the Illinois final custody order judgment entered in 2011. According to that final custody order, both parents are entitled to parental consultation, and Dwyane Wade must consult with Funches-Wade before making any significant decisions regarding their children’s lives, the outlet reports.
As an objection to Wade’s August petition for changing Zaya’s name legally, the motion was filed on Tuesday in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles.
As part of Funches-Wade’s request, she claims that Wade is “positioned to profit from the minor child’s name and gender change with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including but not limited to deals with Disney.”
“I have concerns that [Dwyane] 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,” her filing asserts.
“[Dwayne Wade] told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” she continued.
Since the couple split in 2007, Funches-Wade has been involved in legal disputes more than once. A lawsuit filed by Funches-Wade in 2010 claimed Wade’s relationship with Gabrielle Union caused emotional distress to her and her children. ESPN reported that Wade called the suit as “baseless and meritless.”
Since coming out in 2020, Zaya has received support from Wade and Union. During an appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2020, Wade spoke of his pride in his daughter.
“Me and my wife, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community,” Wade said at the time. “We’re proud allies as well. We take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously.”
Wade issued a lengthy statement on Instagram Thursday morning firing back at Funches-Wade.
"Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame," he wrote.
"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, l'm very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children," Wade continued.
He says he's provided his ex with opportunities to reach out to Zaya's teachers, doctors and therapists, in attempt to allow her to understand their transgender daughter's needs.
"Zaya has given her every opportunity to try to get to know her," Wade wrote. "She won't do it!"
He concluded, "My lawyer will be in contact and best of luck to [her] 14th lawyer as they try to unravel this book of lies that's been sold to them."
