Miami Icon Dwyane Wade Accrued From Florida For “My Family Would Not Feel Comfortable Or Accepted” In opposition to anti-LGBTQ policies and in support of his daughter Zaya, the NBA Hall of Famer relocated to California from Florida.
Retired Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade is sharing some of his reasons for leaving Florida on a recent episode of Headliners With Rachel Nichols.
The host asked the former NBA star his thoughts about politicians who claim to be his fans yet support anti-LGBTQ policies that are harmful to that community.
“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” said Wade whose daughter, Zaya, is transgender. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”
An example of said policies is the “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed by governor Ron DeSantis, prohibiting discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools.
In 2020, Zaya came out as transgender, and in February, she was granted legal recognition as a woman. She frequently speaks up in support of young people traveling similar paths and is honest about the challenges she had growing up transgender. The family left the sunny state and is currently residing in Hidden Hills, California.
It goes without saying that the tax position is excellent. Wade County is a wonderful thing. However, my family would not feel welcome or at ease there. I don’t live there, for that reason among others.
Wade’s biological mother has opposed their daughter, but he and his wife, Gabrielle Union Wade, have publicly backed their daughter. Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, the ex-wife of the former Miami Heat star, pushed for Zaya to wait until she became 18 before changing her name and gender identification. The court did not, however, decide in her favor.
He remarked, “I always tell my dad that I’m just a reflection of the way he loved us and accepted not only my brothers and I but also other kids in the community who didn’t have father figures.”
Therefore, I’m unaware of any differences. Thus, it is true that I needed to educate myself and have a deeper comprehension. Although I did lose some relationships in the process, Wade said, “I never wavered in my love for my kids or in my attempt to find space so that I could have a better understanding of them.”
The 41-year-old is also the father of three other children, in addition to Zaya: Kaavia, 4, who lives with Union Wade, Xavier Zechariah, 8, who lives with Aja Metoyer, and Zaire, age 20, with Funches-Wade.
