Gabrielle
Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade gave an inspiring speech in support of transgender
rights and their trans daughter Zaya while accepting the President’s Awards at
the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards over the weekend.
Wade has been
an outspoken advocate since his daughter Zaya came out a couple of years ago.
Zaya legally changed her name and gender last week. Union, Zaya's stepmother,
has also been a powerful advocate herself.
NAACP
president and CEO Derrick Johnson told Variety at the awards, “I love the way they stood
up and are standing up for their child. He added, “We have five kids — for me
it’s very significant for a father to stand strong, a mother to stand strong in
support of their child.“
Speaking
directly to his daughter, Wade said: “Zaya, as your father, all I’ve wanted to
do is to get it right.
“I’ve sat back
and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on the public’s scrutiny. And even
though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning…as
yourself. I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world. I admire…that
you face every day. To say that your village is proud of you is an
understatement.”
He thanks her,
too for teaching him that “communication with my mouth isn’t enough, I have to
also communicate with my two ears and my two eyes.”
“As your
father, my job isn’t 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’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be — a
baby girl, Zaya Wade," Wade said. "So baby, thank you for showing the
world what courage looks like. I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as
your father and thank you so much NAACP for this incredible honor.”
After Wade,
Union began her speech by recognizing the history of the NAACP.
Union said it
was humbling to be on that stage “surrounded by friends and heroes, OGs and
icons, all working to advance the lives of black people.” She said the
organization has, for over a century, led through “relentless challenge, pain,
triumph, and change, and now stands with us again, at the foot of a very new
era of activism, a new era that demands our collective answer to one simple
question. Will we fight for some…or will we fight for all of our people?”
Her question
was answered with shouting applause.
Union then
went on to “name a couple of hard truths:” “First, the intersection of Black
rights and the rights of the LGBTQIA trans and gender non-conforming people
continues to be rough — that’s 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.”
Second, she
spoke about the dangers that Black trans people face.
“Black trans
people are being targeted, terrorized, and hunted in this country,
every day everywhere…and there’s rarely a whisper about it,” Union said.
Speaking for
herself and for her husband, she said “We honestly don’t approach this work as
activists or leaders, but as much as we do this as parents, as parents who love
our children and would do — will do, whatever the hell we can to keep them seen
and secure and safe.”
Union-Wade
added: “This is a conversation worth having in ways that can actually build
bridges, right? That don’t fan the flames of hatred or division, that don’t
enable lawmakers or justice systems to look the other way when Black trans
people are under attack.” She paused, then said, “That don’t drive more young
people to hate themselves or harm themselves…that don’t cost people their
lives!”
“So we are
humbled,” she concluded, “and we are hopeful for the future. I am hopeful—we
are hopeful—that we may witness a real shift, in the fight for justice, the moment
the movement makes room for everyone. Everyone. Thank you.”
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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