Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union Explain Why Living in Florida Was ‘Not an Option’ for Family

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are opening up about making decisions that benefit their whole family.

via: Page Six

Three months after the retired NBA player revealed his family did not feel “accepted” or “comfortable” in the Sunshine State, he told Parents magazine more about their decision.

“When you have the kind of rhetoric that is being espoused in Florida and adopted into law, that’s not an option if my child isn’t safe there,” Wade, 41, said of Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the cover story published Tuesday, referencing his transgender 16-year-old daughter, Zaya.

“We have family and friends who don’t have the privilege of moving. So, we are going to be fighting ’til we are out of breath to protect all kids who are oppressed.

“That is our responsibility as people with large platforms and as people who folks trust,” he continued. “They trust us because we say the hard thing.”

As for why he and Union, 50, chose California for their home base after selling their Miami home, the actress said that “finding a community for Zaya was a big part of that.”

The “Perfect Find” star explained, “We felt that California was a place that would allow her to blossom and grow. She’s going to be a junior in high school now, and she’s been able to be accepted and become her here.”

Wade’s daughter, whom he welcomed in May 2007 with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, came out as trans in February 2020.

The former Miami Heat player told “Ellen DeGeneres Show” viewers at the time that he and Union are “proud allies.”

He added, “We take our roles and our responsibilities as parents very seriously.”

Two years later, Zaya launched a modeling career with ads for Miu Miu and Tiffany & Co. under her belt. She posed for her first cover for Dazed magazine in March.

Not only has Wade supported her hustle on social media, but he also fought Funches in court as his ex resisted Zaya’s legal name and gender change and claimed he was “pressuring” the teen.

“No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them,” the Olympian wrote via Instagram in November 2022, three months before the changes were granted.

He and his high school sweetheart also share son Zaire, 21. Additionally, Wade is the father of son Xavier, 9, and daughter Kaavia, 4, with Aja Metoyer and Union, respectively.

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