Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union (open in new tab) talk about being the best allies for their transgender daughter Zaya and offer the world a master class in parenting. Wade appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen on Tuesday and was asked what he learned after speaking to the cast of Paws. 'We didn't have a lot of information, so we reached out to them about pronouns. We wanted to make sure we didn't make a mistake. So we contacted her about pronouns and made sure we told her she was right."

"She was identified as a young woman and we wanted to make sure all the pronouns were correct," he continued. 'We wanted to make sure we got every word right. So we contacted her to make sure she had all the information we needed, because we are also learning through this process."

Paws star Angelica Ross said on Twitter that she was "very touched" that Wade and Union reached out to her (opens in new tab), adding that they were "very dedicated to doing the right thing as parents."

Wade also appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday and told Robin Roberts (opens in new tab) that Zaya led the family conversation about her gender identity. 'Zaya started doing more research. She sat down with our family and said, 'Hey, I don't think I'm gay. And then she listed her own gender identity and said, 'I don't think I'm gay. I like boys, so I guess I'm a straight trans [girl].'

"For us, it was a process of taking the time to sit down with our daughter and find out who she is and what she likes and not impose anything on her. We decided to listen to our daughter and she is guiding us on this journey," Wade continued. 'This is not a game to us. We have to protect her heart and her joy, and we have to support them."

Wade added, "We have to be there for her, and we have to be there for her.

Wade also spoke about the importance of confronting oneself, having uttered "wrong words and phrases" in the past. 'I knew early on that I needed to check myself, that I needed to ask myself questions,' he told Roberts. 'My daughter was the first person I had to address this conversation with. Hopefully, I'm dealing with it the right way. But seeing the smile on my daughter's face in the house and seeing the confidence that she can walk like herself, I know I'm doing the right thing." [Zaya said in a video published by the Union on Instagram (opens in new tab), "Be honest with yourself, what's the point of being in this world if you're trying to be someone you're not?" and "You're not even living as yourself.

"I know it can be hard. But I think you get through it and become the best you can be."

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