For years, NBA superstar Dwayne Wade has been one of the most iconic athletes in the state of Florida, helping lead the Miami Heat to multiple NBA Championships throughout his playing career. But it looks like Wade and his family are leaving his beloved home state behind.
This week, Dwayne Wade appeared on an episode of Headliners with Rachel Nichols. There, the former NBA star revealed that he and his family moved away from the state of Florida as a result of some policies from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the rest of the Florida government that are not friendly to the LGBTQ community.
“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade said during the interview according to Yahoo! Sports. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”
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
The anti-LGBTQ policies are especially impactful to Wade and his family after his 15-year-old daughter Zaya came out as transgender in 2020. Wade said given the political climate of the state, they don’t feel “accepted or comfortable” in Florida.
“I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] 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,” Wade said.
It’s a pretty bold move from Wade, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
“My family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there": Miami Heat legend @DwyaneWade reveals why he had to leave Florida and Wade County pic.twitter.com/uVuAoeJqjd
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) April 26, 2023
Probably the greatest South Florida sports figure of all time can't live there because the state wants to kill his kid https://t.co/EyhIfNnuqS
— Lena (@banalplay) April 27, 2023
WOW: Dwyane Wade had to leave his own state to give his family peace.
Hell no to this.
I'm not giving Republicans a national divorce. I'm not going to let GOP extremists split our country between love states and hate states.
Because this is NOT an issue of state vs state.… https://t.co/sgGATT3X0N
— Larry Huynh (@larryhuynh) April 27, 2023
This hurts. D Wade shares why he moved out of Miami: anti-trans laws passed in Florida. His daughter is transgender. https://t.co/HybQ3Fggbm
— Danny Rivero (@TooMuchMe) April 27, 2023
Dwayne Wade & his family have quite a bit of privilege that "regular Joes" just don't have. They're famous, they're wealthy. Even THEY don't feel safe in red states with these bigoted, draconian, anti-LGBTQIA+ laws.
Imagine the desperation, the hopelessness average folks feel. https://t.co/Cq5LRQ6RwD
— 𝕀𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕪 𝔹𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕪 (@ImpossiblyBossy) April 27, 2023
Very glad Dwyane Wade is saying this so clear for everyone to hear.
Florida is a great place. But it is heading in a very bad direction politically. We should be welcoming of everyone, not throwing out families — famous or not. https://t.co/vhNzuPjvFx
— Philip Rossman-Reich (@philiprr_OMD) April 26, 2023
It’s a pretty clear message to DeSantis and the rest of the Florida government that Wade does not support how things have gone the past few years.
