Dwayne Wade has consistently been an ally for the LGBTQ community for years. His daughter, Zaya Wade, came out as transgender in 2020 and he has turned up the heat as an ally since.

Dwyane Wade on advocating for the trans community: “Let’s make sure our kids have an opportunity to live this life that we all get to live.” #MetGala https://t.co/OcPy5cjK1f pic.twitter.com/0ugVwVAs4l
— Variety (@Variety) May 1, 2023

At Monday’s Met Gala, Wade was stopped on the red carpet by Variety. When asked if he had a message for Florida Governor Ron Desantis, he made his stance very clear.

“I don’t know him, but I do know men lie, women lie, but numbers don’t,” he began. “43% of our children that feel accepted from their parents, from the world, it lowers the death rate. Suicide is high in the trans community, it’s high in youth.”

He continues to share that he is standing “on the side of acceptance.”

“I’m going to focus on acceptance,” Wade said. “Let’s make sure our kids have an opportunity to live this life that we all get to live.”

Dwayne Wade Protecting His Family

In an exclusive interview with People, Wade opened up about leaving the state of Florida. He said that made the decision based off of what would be best for his family.

“I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great,” he said to People. “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.”

Gov. Desantis has been cracking down on anti-LGBT laws. His efforts to limit transgender rights has been all but quaint. He has pushed for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and Medicaid recipients. He has also signed a bill into law that bans trans women and girls from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity. These laws and limitations are a threat for Wade’s daughter.

Wade says he admires Zaya’s strength at just 15-years-old.

“She’s the strong one in this family. She’s a hero,” Wade said about his daughter. “It’s our family’s job to make sure that we listen to her. We listen to the doctors. We ask questions and we formulate our own ideas of how Zaya should be and should be raised in this world and we don’t allow others to do that for us.”

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