Zaya Wade and Gabrielle Union. (Instagram/ Gabrielle Union)
Gabrielle Union has shared the heartwarming story of taking her trans stepdaughter Zaya Wade to her first-ever Pride parade.
Speaking with radio station Power 105, Union explained that on the day of the parade, she and Zaya had been having a mother-daughter day, and had been planning to go to a drag queen bingo event.
But when she called to book, the venue hosting the event decided to try their luck and ask Union if she’d like to join their float in a Pride parade that day, as it was Bring It On themed.
Union said: “I was like, ‘Let me ask my date if they want to go to Pride’,” Union said.
“She was like ‘I’ve always wanted to go,’ basically like see my people, you know,” she continued.
“And I was like, ‘I’ve been to Pride all over the world! I’m good in these Pride streets!’”
But Union told Zaya that if they were going to be a part of the parade, “we need our village, we need Zaya’s village”.
“Family, friends, teachers, tutors, coaches, everyone came out. And they all walked along the float the whole parade route,” she said.
“And watching Zaya on that float, watching her in her community, come alive, it was like she was being birthed on that float.”
Gabrielle Union talking about Zaya’s first Pride event pic.twitter.com/eSVZivQBkS
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Zaya Wade’s first Pride parade showed her the power of chosen family, Gabrielle Union said
By “exposing her, and giving her access to her community”, Gabriella Union said she was able to teach Zaya Wade about the power of chosen family.
“She could see all the possibilities of the world, and know that there is a space and a place for all of us,” she said.
“And a community that is here, welcoming you with open arms just like we are at home.
“There can be your home family, and your chosen family.”