Dwyane Wade Says His and Gabrielle Union's 12-Year-Old Now Goes By Zaya

UPDATE: In a new video shared on Twitter, Gabrielle Union invited people to "meet Zaya." In the video, Dwyane Wade can be seen with Zaya, who discusses the importance of being yourself. "Just be true to yourself, because what's the point of being on this earth if you're going to try to be someone you're not?" Zaya says.

Dwyane Wade opened up more about his and Gabrielle Union's child, revealing that the 12-year-old now goes by Zaya.

In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Wade discussed the moment Zaya came out to him and wife Gabrielle Union, telling the host he hopes to give her "the best opportunity to be her best self."

"Me and my wife, Gabrielle Union, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we’re proud allies as well," he said. "We take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously. So when our child comes home with a question, when a child comes home with an issue, when a child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information that we can, to give them the best feedback that we can — and that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it."

Wade has previously defended Zaya against negative social media comments after the 12-year-old wore a crop top and long nails in a photo Union posted on Instagram.

"So once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home — first Zion, I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion, born as a boy — came home and said, 'Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth. I want to be referenced as she and her, I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,'" he recalled.

"Once Zaya came home and said, 'I want you to call me Zaya and I’m ready to take on this,' I looked at her and said, 'You are a leader. And this is our opportunity to allow you to be a voice,'" Wade added. "Right now it’s through us, because she’s 12 years old, but eventually it will be through her."

Wade and Union have been open about supporting Zaya, having made appearances with her at Pride. A few months ago, Union also defended their family from online hate, after trolls latched onto a photo Wade posted of her with Kaavia and Zaya, writing "My girls," seeming to imply that Zaya identifies as a girl.

"Looks like love to me," she wrote at the time. "I truly hope that everyone gets the love, support and hugs they deserve."