Retired NBA star Dwyane Wade revealed he moved his family out of Florida mainly due to the state's restrictive laws—enacted by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis—targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Wade's 15-year-old daughter Zaya is transgender.
In an upcoming interview on Showtime’s Headliners series, the former Miami Heat star explained to host Rachel Nichols that while he appreciated Florida's low taxes, he knew his family would "not be accepted or feel comfortable there."
"And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there," he said.
“A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions."
Florida Republican lawmakers have been working on a series of anti-LGBTQ+ bills this session, including a provision preventing transgender students from using school facilities corresponding to their gender and a bill prohibiting businesses from hosting drag shows to "protect children."
Earlier this month, a Republican lawmaker from Florida referred to transgender people as "demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world" during a Committee hearing on the restrictive bathroom bill.
He later apologized to the trans community for his disparaging comments after the bill advanced.
You can watch a video of Wade's interview, here.
\u201cHere's what Dwyane Wade said on Headliners when I asked him about anti-LGBTQ laws in Florida: "That's another reason why I don't live in that state. A lot of people don't know that...my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there."\u201d— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel Nichols) 1682537031
Twitter praised Wade for putting family first.
\u201c@_DefeatDesantis Good for D Wade! Gotta protect your family.\u201d— Defeat DeSantis (@Defeat DeSantis) 1682564339
\u201c@Rachel__Nichols @DwyaneWade was a great basketball player, but he's an even better father. \u2764\ufe0f\u270a\ud83c\udffe\u201d— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel Nichols) 1682537031
\u201c@Rachel__Nichols Now my favorite basketball star. So few want to put themselves out there against all that hate.\u201d— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel Nichols) 1682537031
\u201c@_DefeatDesantis @mister_gelato Greatest Heat player of all time!! So glad he\u2019s speaking out against hate!!\u201d— Defeat DeSantis (@Defeat DeSantis) 1682564339
\u201c@_DefeatDesantis @OccupyDemocrats My man!!!\u201d— Defeat DeSantis (@Defeat DeSantis) 1682564339
\u201c@_DefeatDesantis This man is a role model for parents! Love him!\u201d— Defeat DeSantis (@Defeat DeSantis) 1682564339
Others aimed their frustration at Florida's legislators for harmful bills targeting a marginalized community.
\u201c@Rachel__Nichols Shame on every Floridian who enables this hate by voting for hateful bigoted republicans.\u201d— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel Nichols) 1682537031
\u201c@Rachel__Nichols We got people talking about how great the authoritarian governor of Florida is but meanwhile people leaving the state because of his bigotry and horribleness. Conservatives are pathetic and evil.\u201d— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel Nichols) 1682537031
Wade, whose wife is actress Gabrielle Union, now lives in Los Angeles.
Union has also spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community and slammed Tennessee's anti-trans bill banning gender-affirming care for minors.
At the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards, Union directed her anger at Republican Gover Bill Lee, who signed the bill into law:
"There is an army that rebukes you, that does not agree with you and that will not lie down while this fascist rule is instituted."
In February, the couple received the prestigious NAACP President's Award.
In his acceptance speech, Wade dedicated the award to his daughter Zaya and said:
"As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future."
"My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, wishes and dreams."
Wade retired from the NBA in 2019 after spending the majority of his 16-year-long career playing for the Miami Heat and winning three NBA Championships.
His sports legacy includes being a 13-time NBA All-Star, an 8-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a 3-time member of the All-Defensive Team.
When looking back on his time in the Sunshine State, he said:
"It's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there."
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