Dwyane Wade Says Family Left Florida Because They ‘Would Not Be Accepted’

"I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions."

By Christina Marfice April 27, 2023

Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, and Zaya Wade

Dwyane Wade, who has always been outspokenly supportive of his transgender daughter, said anti-LGBTQ+ laws are part of the reason his family left Florida

Retired NBA star Dwyane Wade might be best known for his basketball career, but behind the scenes, he’s one of the best dads in the public eye. He seems to always be gushing about his four kids—21-year-old Zaire, 15-year-old Zaya, 9-year-old Xavier, and 4-year-old Kaavia. But he’s been especially supportive of Zaya, who is transgender. In recent years, he’s been outspoken against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. He also helped Zaya petition for her legal name change.

Now, in an interview, he’s revealing that his support for Zaya is part of the reason his family moved from Florida to California in 2019.

Here'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." pic.twitter.com/1ya0AevA1C
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 26, 2023

On an episode of Showtime’s Headliners, Wade told host Rachel Nichols that Florida’s rapid adoption of anti-LGBTQ+ laws is one of the reasons he and his family left the state after he retired from the NBA.

“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions. Obviously, the taxes is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there.”

All things considered, it’s not too surprising. Florida has become an epicenter in Republicans’ battle against LGBTQ+ Americans’ freedoms. State lawmakers recently expanded the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law to prohibit discussion of gender identity and sexuality in school at all grade levels. They’ve also made moves to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth and punish businesses that host drag shows.