Dwyane Wade and Zaya Wade Launch ‘Safe Space’ For Trans Youth
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Announced on Thursday via an Instagram Reel and new website, Dwane and Zaya Wade launched Translatable, an online community and safe space for LGBTQ+ youth of color to express themselves through creative outlets, as well as an educational resource for parents and families.
NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade was presented with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award on Thursday, May 23, in Miami, returning to Florida where he spent the majority of his NBA career. Wade received the award for his advocacy work for the transgender community, and told People that this new accolade stands separate from his basketball achievements.
“Sports is something you can expect an award from,” Wade told People. “But this one right here is not one of those things that I would expect to get an award for. I’m just a parent doing what a good parent should do.”
After Zaya Wade publicly announced she was transgender in 2020, when she was 12 years old, her family have been her biggest champions. In light of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state, the Wades relocated from Florida to California.
“We’ve done so many great things here so it wasn’t easy to leave,” Wade told AP prior to the award ceremony event. “But the community wasn’t here for Zaya, so the community wasn’t here for us.”
Turning 17 on May 29, model and influencer Zaya, has spent the past several years collaborating with her father on Translatable, for which her father said he shared the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, which will give young people from across the LGBTQ+ community an online place to connect, and provide families with educational guides to help learn more about LGBTQ+ issues and being support systems.
The award, which has previously been won by education activist Malala Yousafzai and actors Michael J Fox, and Matt Damon, includes $250,000 towards funding Translatable.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
