NBA great Dwyane Wade was back in South Florida on Thursday to do battle again. This time, the fight he outlined at The Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit is his most personal yet. The Hall of Famer, who spent over 14 seasons as a guard for the Miami Heat, winning three championships and earning Miami-Dade County the nickname “Wade County,” now focuses on advocacy beyond the basketball court.
Wade received the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award at the summit, an honor recognizing his dedication to the transgender community and his family’s efforts to create a more inclusive world. The catalyst for this advocacy is his daughter, Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020 amidst a wave of anti-trans legislation in Florida and other states.
“We’ve done so many great things here, so it wasn’t easy to leave,” Wade told The Associated Press before the award ceremony. “But the community wasn’t here for Zaya, so the community wasn’t here for us.” The Wade family sold their Florida home last year and moved to California to find a more supportive environment for Zaya, who turns 17 next week.
In accepting the award, Wade shared it with Zaya, crediting her with inspiring the creation of Translatable, a new online community designed to support transgender children and their families. “The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?'” Wade recalled. “And for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us. And so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”
Translatable aims to be a safe and supportive online community for trans youth and their families, providing resources and a space to connect and share experiences. This initiative is particularly timely given the increasing hostility towards transgender individuals in many parts of the country. Alexander Roque, executive director of the Ali Forney Center, highlighted the critical need for such support. “Not all bills turn into law, but they’re all acts of hate that affect our kids in very devastating ways,” Roque said. “We know statistically that every time there’s an anti-LGBTQ bill in the media, there’s a 400 percent increase in calls to suicide hotlines by young people. We also know that we’re seeing a significant increase in unhoused LGBTQ youth because of family rejection.”
The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award helps its winners amplify their philanthropic work by providing resources and connections to inspire more donors and supporters. Past recipients include actors Matt Damon and Michael J. Fox and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. Wade plans to use the $250,000 in unrestricted funding from the award to directly support the development of Translatable.
Carolina García Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation, commended Wade for his dedication to the trans community and for launching Translatable in Florida. “By bravely confronting societal norms and advocating for change, Dwyane has not only reshaped perceptions but also inspired countless individuals to be more supportive and to embrace authenticity,” she said. “We commend his decision to announce Translatable in Florida, a place where many might feel a sense of exclusion.”
Wade’s commitment to trans rights is a natural extension of being a parent. He enjoys learning from Zaya through long discussions at home and is devoted to ensuring she feels supported and understood. This dedication was evident to comedian and “Everything’s Trash” actress Phoebe Robinson, who interviewed Wade during the summit. “In a time when people are so worried about saying anything because they are only thinking about their bottom line, I think the fact that he’s thinking about humanity first is amazing,” Robinson said. “He’s really stressing the importance of connection and community to help protect people and help them grow and just blossom.”
Dr. Michelle Forcier, a clinician at FOLX Health, emphasized the importance of creating an online community for trans youth. “Youth are all about electronic and online communication, socialization, and communities,” she said. “So if you are trying to support youth, it only makes sense to be a part of how youth feel most comfortable communicating.” The involvement of a celebrity ally like Wade makes the initiative even more impactful. “To have a champion who shows up for some of our most vulnerable – transgender and gender-diverse youth and the families that care for them – that would be a truly heroic act and possibly change the game entirely.”
Translatable will be supported by the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project and will focus on helping communities of color. It will feature community contributions across various mediums, including short stories, artwork, and poetry. Wade hopes that Translatable will support the growth, mental health, and well-being of transgender youth and ignite more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.
As Wade reflected on his journey, he acknowledged the challenges but remained hopeful. “We understand that in this state, not everyone thinks the way some others think,” he said. “Like most things in life, once you get to know them, you have more ability to be understanding. And so if you don’t want to know them, then you stay ignorant in a sense.”
The launch of Translatable marks a significant step in Wade’s ongoing advocacy for the transgender community. By providing a safe and supportive online space for trans youth and their families, Wade and Zaya hope to foster a sense of belonging and acceptance that can help combat the negative impacts of anti-LGBTQ legislation and societal prejudice.
