In the weeks following Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s announcement that their 12-year-old daughter Zaya identified as a transgender young woman, some, including rappers Boosie Badazz and Young Thug, have made public, transphobic comments about the young woman’s transition. Now, Cardi B is here to let Zaya know that she’s not alone.
In an Instagram Live on Friday (Feb. 21), Cardi spoke about the discussions happening around Zaya online, saying that those claiming she is “too young” to be making a decision about her gender are just wrong. “How old is too young?” Cardi asked. “If you are born knowing that you are a girl in a boy’s body, how old do you have to be to keep knowing that that’s who you are?”
The rapper continued, saying that those making offensive comments fail to understand that Zaya’s age has nothing to do with her gender identity, referencing Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” to illustrate her point. “People are born like that,” she said. “Like the Lady Gaga song ‘I was born this way,’ that s–t is f–king real.”
While Cardi said she understands that many peope have not grown up knowing or understanding the transgender experience, she expressed that everyone has a responsibility to starting educating themselves. “I understand that they just don’t be understanding certain shit, please try to understand. Because sometimes you will be wanting people to understand you. So try to understand somebody else. Especially when it is a child.”
As for those claiming that Wade and Union brought the backlash on themselves by publicizing Zaya’s gender identity, Cardi said she was glad to see someone in a position of power taking the opportunity to educate the world. “Let’s say they would’ve kept it a secret? Y’all would’ve been saying, ‘I think his son is gay,'” she said. “You might as well be free and let it out. And while you are free and letting it out and telling the truth, why not educate. Why not educate?”
Before wrapping up, Cardi made certain to let Zaya and other kids like her know that they shouldn’t be afraid to live as themselves. “Speak your truth,” she said. “Speak your truth, and educate.”
Check out the clips from Cardi B’s Instagram Live below:
.@iamcardib shares her support for Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union’s transgender child Zaya. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/oCFE2a9NA5
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 22, 2020