{"id":9375,"date":"2023-02-27T19:47:35","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T19:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/?p=9375"},"modified":"2023-02-27T19:47:48","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T19:47:48","slug":"gabrielle-union-wade-and-dwayne-wade-advocate-for-black-lgbtqia-rights-while-being-honored-at-naacp-image-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/gabrielle-union-wade-and-dwayne-wade-advocate-for-black-lgbtqia-rights-while-being-honored-at-naacp-image-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabrielle Union-Wade And Dwayne Wade Advocate For Black LGBTQIA Rights While Being Honored At NAACP Image Awards<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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At the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwayne Wade received the President\u2019s Award in honor of their philanthropic work and ongoing support of the LGBTQIA community.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their 15-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came out as transgender in 2020, and the Wades have been in full support of Zaya\u2019s transition. Just one day prior to the NAACP Awards, Zaya was granted the right to legally change her name and gender. Her legal name is now Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the heartfelt speech, Wade spoke directly to his daughter. \u201cAs your father, all I\u2019ve wanted to do was get it right,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve sat back and watched how gracefully you\u2019ve taken on public scrutiny. And even though it\u2019s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning as yourself. I admire how you\u2019ve handled the ignorance in our world. I admire [what] you face every day. To say that your village is proud of you is an understatement.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went on to give gratitude towards Zaya for showing him how to communicate effectively, and spoke about how she has made him a better person through walking in her truth. \u201cAs your father, my job isn\u2019t to create a version of myself or direct your future. My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes and your dreams. Zaya, you\u2019ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be \u2014 a baby girl, Zaya Wade. So baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I\u2019m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father and thank you so much NAACP for this incredible honor.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union-Wade paid respect to the NAACP during her speech, stating that it is \u201can organization that has led us through over a century of relentless challenge, pain, triumph, and change.\u201d Regarding this new era of activism, however, she asked a pertinent question: \u201cWill we fight for some, or will we fight for all of our people?\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just name a couple hard truths,\u201d she continued. \u201cFirst, the intersection of Black rights and the rights of the LGBTQIA trans and gender non conforming people continues to be rough \u2014 that\u2019s a huge understatement. Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we consistently failed to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable among us. And second, Black trans people are being targeted, terrorized and hunted in this country. Every day everywhere. And there\u2019s rarely a whisper about it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the Wades are proud and vocal activists in the LGBTQIA community, for them the support derives from being \u201cparents who love our children and will do whatever the hell we can to keep them seen and secure and safe,\u201d said Union-Wade.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She continued: \u201cThis is a conversation worth having in ways that can actually build bridges. That don\u2019t fan the flames of hatred or division. That don\u2019t enable lawmakers or justice systems to look the other way when Black trans people are under attack. That don\u2019t drive more young people to hate themselves or harm themselves. That don\u2019t cost people their lives.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concluding her galvanizing speech, Union-Wade said that considering the future, they\u2019re \u201chopeful that we may witness a real shift in the fight for justice, the moment the movement makes room for everyone. Everyone.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the speech below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n