Retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade recently appeared on an episode of “Headliners with Rachel Nichols” and shared his family’s reason for not living in Florida.
Wade, who is a father to four children, including his 15-year-old transgender daughter Zaya, expressed concerns about Florida politicians who support policies that negatively impact families like his.
“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” he shared exclusively with People.
“A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions,” the former NBA star continued.
While Dwyane Wade acknowledges the benefits of living in Florida, he feels that his family “would not be accepted or feel comfortable there.”
In recent years, Florida has been at the forefront of the movement to limit the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Last month, a new law was implemented to prohibit gender-affirming medical care for most trans minors in the state. This law even goes as far as threatening doctors with the revocation of their medical license if they provide such care.
During the interview, Wade also discussed his parenting philosophies, which he credits to his father.
“I tell my dad all the time, I’m just a mirror image of the way he loved us and the way that he accepted not only myself and my brothers but other kids in the community that didn’t have father figures,” he said.
He continued, “And so I don’t know any difference. And so yes, I had to educate myself and yes, I had to get a better understanding. And yes, I had to lose some friends along the process, but I never wavered on loving my kids and trying to find space to get the chance to understand them.”
In addition to Zaya, Dwyane is also dad to Xavier Zechariah,8, Zaire,20, and Kaavia,4.
