Posted by on February 20, 2020 4:55 am
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Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

Last week, famous parents Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade were praised by fans and LGBTQ+ community advocates for their acceptance of their daughter, Zaya, who recently came out as a trans girl. Wade and Union have made it a point to share their insights—as well as Zaya’s—about what it means to accept and support your trans child, on social media as well as TV shows like Ellen. Whatever you think of the celebrity multimedia circuit, their vocal and public acceptance of Zaya is important because trans black women are disproportionately victims of violence, especially murder. Zaya is the daughter of very wealthy, accepting parents, and so will have more protection than the general trans population regardless of race, but it is precisely Union and Wade’s platform as celebrities that could help make the conversation about all black trans women’s safety difficult to ignore.

Beyond the praise, however, Zaya (and Wade by proxy) has been on the receiving end of unsolicited transphobic advice by rappers Boosie Badazz and Young Thug. Both have misgendered Zaya, and in an especially disgusting and shameful tirade, Boosie has even discussed the child’s genitalia.

The rappers seem to be fixated on the idea that Zaya’s transness is just a phase or delusion. These views are, unfortunately, common—trans identities are still seen by many, even by cis gays and lesbians, as fantasies or pleas for attention. And, as to be expected in a patriarchal society, many adults have made it their business to involve themselves in the affairs of trans kids and adults, alike. In Idaho and Missouri, for example, several bills have recently been brought to legislature that will make life for trans and non-binary kids, as well as adults, exceedingly difficult.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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