Dwyane Wade Reveals He Moved Out of Florida Because of the State’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws: ‘My Family Would Not Be Accepted’
27.04.2023 - 19:19
/ usmagazine.com
Taking a stand. Dwyane Wade decided to move his family out of Florida due to state legislation that negatively impacts the LGBTQ+ community.
“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” the former professional basketball player, 41, said on the Thursday, April 27, episode of Headliners With Rachel Nichols. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”
Wade continued: “I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there.”
The retired athlete, who currently resides in Los Angeles with wife Gabrielle Union, has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community since his 15-year-old daughter, Zaya, came out as transgender in 2020. At the time, Wade recalled when he first learned about his child’s identity.
“[She] said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I’m ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,’” he explained on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Now it’s our job to one, go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship that we have. We’re just trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.”
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Wade noted that it was a parent’s job “to listen” to their children and to “give them the best information that we can, the best feedback that we can. And that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.”
The Illinois native shares Zaya and son Zaire, 21, with ex Siohvau