🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) has said how important it is for transgender children to be supported by both sets of parents.
Their statement to Newsweek came after former NBA star Dwyane Wade, 40, called out his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, when she petitioned in court to stop their 15-year-old Zaya from legally changing her name and gender.
Dwyane and his current wife, actress Gabrielle Union, 50, have been supportive of Zaya. NCTE's Policy Director, Olivia Hunt, told Newsweek said that the support of both parents is imperative at this stage, no matter what personal feelings are about the situation.
Hunt said: "Transgender people of all ages deserve to be respected, and that includes calling them by their true names and pronouns.
"In a 2018 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, researchers found that simply using a trans child's chosen name and correct pronouns significantly reduces their risk of experiencing severe negative mental-health symptoms."
Hunt continued: "It is not uncommon for parents of transgender children to disagree on their child's legal name change, though it usually doesn't result in a public legal battle.
"Ultimately, it is important for parents to support their transgender children throughout their journey, and that includes using the correct name."
Funches-Wade had criticized her former husband in the wake of petitioning in court, saying that he was looking to "profit" from Zaya's name and gender change.
She said: "[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 to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies."
On Thursday, Wade hit back at his ex-wife in a statement that he posted on his Instagram account. He denied the allegations made by his former wife, saying they have hurt their children.
He wrote: "Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame.
"While I'm on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I've received a social media post about me forcing our 15-year-old child to be someone she's not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children."
He continued: "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, I'm very disappointed that she continuously finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children."
Dwayne added, "Siohvaughn has decided to be pretty much an absent parent to Zaya ALL ON HER OWN.
"I will not sit on my hands and allow her to make a mockery of my dedication to my family. The high road has run out of real estate. My lawyer will be in contact and best of luck to the 14th lawyer as they try to unravel this book of lies that's been sold to them."
