Former Miami Heat star, Dwayne Wade, revealed that he and his family left their longtime home in Florida due to anti-LGBTQ laws in the state. Wade has a 15-year-old transgender daughter that he felt could have been targeted.

Wade opened up to Rachel Nichols on Thursday’s episode of “Headliners” about his decision.

“I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions,” the basketball icon said. “I mean, obviously, the taxes are great, having ‘Wade’ County is great, but my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there.”

LGBTQ rights have been under attack in Florida under the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

His targeting actions began last year when he signed the Parental Rights in Education law, commonly called the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The law prohibits instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity through grade 12. In March, the state expanded the bill to restrict gender-affirming care for minors. Other bills associated with the law have included bans on drag shows and individuals entering bathrooms that don’t correspond with their birth sex.

Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have been active and vocal advocates for the LBGTQ community since his daughter, Zaya, came out as transgender when she was 12 years old.

Wade confirmed his support of his daughter when he first revealed her gender identity on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2020.

“We are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we’re proud allies as well,” Wade said.

During his interview with Nichols, he stated that the decision to relocate is just parenting skills he is modeling from his father, Dwyane Wade Sr.

“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,” the athlete said of his father.

“And so I don’t know any difference,” the 41 year-old added, “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.”

The family is currently residing in Los Angeles.

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

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