NBA great Dwyane Wade made a triumphant return to South Florida on Thursday.
The Hall of Famer, known for his more than 14 seasons as a guard for the Miami Heat, where he won three championships and earned the nickname “Wade County,” remains a leading figure in the franchise with records in points, rebounds, and personal fouls. However, his most personal battle was outlined at The Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit, where he received the nonprofit’s Elevate Prize Catalyst Award.
Speaking to The Associated Press before the award ceremony, Wade explained, “We’ve done so many great things here so it wasn’t easy to leave. But the community wasn’t here for Zaya, so the community wasn’t here for us.”
Wade’s daughter, Zaya, came out as transgender in 2020 amidst anti-trans legislation in Florida and other states, leading the Wade family to sell their Florida home and move to California.
During his acceptance speech for the award, Wade credited Zaya with inspiring the creation of Translatable, an online community supporting transgender children and their families.
Wade expressed his hope that Translatable, funded by the Wade Family Foundation, will foster growth, mental health, and understanding within the transgender community. He plans to use the $250,000 in unrestricted funding from The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award for Translatable.
The Elevate Prize Foundation CEO, Carolina Garcìa Jayaram, announced an additional donation to Translatable in support of Wade’s initiative.
Phoebe Robinson, a comedian and actress, praised Wade for his outspokenness on various issues during her interview with him at the summit.
Other advocates, including Alexander Roque from the Ali Forney Center and Dr. Michelle Forcier from FOLX Health, highlighted the significance of Translatable in supporting transgender youth amidst a challenging legislative landscape.
Celebrity
Dwyane Wade says he moved family from Florida due to anti-LGBTQ laws
11:10 AM, Apr 27, 2023
