MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NBA great Dwyane Wade returned to South Florida on Thursday to compete again.
The Hall of Famer played guard for the Miami Heat over 14 seasons, winning three championships and giving Miami-Dade County the nickname “Wade County,” which is still used to this day. Leading the franchise He's excelled in everything from scoring and rebounding to personal fouls. But the battle he recounted at the Elevate Prize Foundation's Make Good Famous Summit on Thursday after receiving the nonprofit's Elevate Prize Catalyst Award may be his most personal.
“It wasn't easy to leave because we've accomplished so many great things here,” Wade told The Associated Press in an interview before the ceremony, “but the community wasn't here for us, just like they weren't here for Zaya.”
Wade's daughter, Zaya, who turns 17 next week, came out as transgender in 2020. Anti-Transgender Laws In Florida and many other states Transgender adults flee stateThe Wade family sold their Florida home last year and moved to California.
Wade shared the award with Zaya while accepting it, and Zaya Translation availableA new online community designed to support transgender kids and their families.
“The question she was asked was, 'If there was one thing you would want to change in this community, what would it be?'” Wade recalls. “And for her, it was about parents, adults, and us. Not the kids, it's us. So she wanted to create a space where parents and kids could feel safe. That's what Translatable is, and it's her treasure.”
Wade hopes that Translatable, which is funded by the Wade Family Foundation, will provide a community that “supports growth, mental health, and well-being” and that “this space will spark more conversations and lead to greater understanding and acceptance.” He said he plans to use $250,000 in unrestricted funding from his Elevate Prize Catalyst Award for Translatable.
Carolina Garcia Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation, said that after hearing about Wade's plans, her nonprofit made a separate, additional donation to Translatable, which was founded with the support of the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.
“Dwyane Wade and what he represents speaks to the spirit of the entire foundation,” Jayaram told The Associated Press. “He's a hero in the sports world and beyond basketball. He's been involved in social justice issues almost since the beginning of his NBA career, and most people don't know that.”
Jayaram said Wade felt empowered when Zaya came out as transgender in 2020 and “it was so inspiring to us, we couldn't wait to be a part of what he was building.”
The Elevate Catalyst Award helps laureates, who include actors Matt Damon, Michael J. Fox and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, leverage the foundation's resources and connections to inspire more donors and supporters and expand their philanthropic efforts.
Wade said supporting transgender rights is a natural part of being a parent, and how he enjoys learning from Zaya as they spend hours talking at home together. Jayaram said he's impressed by Wade's dedication as a parent, but praised his decision to launch Translatable in Florida, “a place where a lot of people might feel excluded.”
“We understand in this state that not everyone thinks the same way as everyone else,” Wade said, “and like most things in life, once you know, your ability to understand increases. So if you don't want to know, you remain ignorant in a sense.”
Comedian and “Everything's Trash” actress Phoebe Robinson, who interviewed Wade as part of the summit, said she admires him for being outspoken on many issues.
“In a time when people are hesitant to say anything because they're only thinking about their own interests, I think the fact that he's putting humanity first is incredible. He really emphasizes the importance of connection and community to protect people and to help them grow and flourish,” Robinson said.
Alexander Roque, executive director of the Ali Forney Center, which supports homeless LGBTQ+ youth, said Translatable comes at a critical time for transgender youth, with more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced this year.
“Not every bill becomes law, but they are all acts of hate and they all have such devastating effects on children,” he said. “Statistically, we know that every time an anti-LGBTQ bill is in the media, there is a 400% increase in calls to youth suicide hotlines. We also know that there is a significant increase in homeless LGBTQ youth due to rejection from their families. So having this celebrity so involved in the community is helping to change the tide of what's happening to kids and it's probably one of the most hopeful moments I've seen in my life that I hope will change the tide.”
Dr. Michelle Forcier, a clinician at FOLX Health, Providing medical services He said the creation of an online community for transgender youth, which targets LGBTQIA+ people across the country, is a concrete program that can help.
“Electronic, online communication, socialization and community are important for young people,” she said, “so if we're trying to support young people, it makes sense to join them in the ways they feel most comfortable communicating.”
Forcier said the community has become more influential because it has grown from celebrity endorsers.
“The transgender and gender diverse community does not have the deep pockets of funding, political and media resources that anti-transgender and anti-diversity political and advocacy groups have,” she said. “When we have advocates who stand up for the most vulnerable — transgender and gender diverse youth and the families who care for them — it's a truly heroic act and can completely change the situation.”
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