Former NBA legend Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union elaborated on their decision to move away from Florida in 2020.
In a new interview with Parents, the couple shared more about relocation to California, citing the safety of their trans daughter, 16-year-old Zaya, as a major reason.
“There are a lot of reasons we decided California was best for our family,” Wade revealed, “and finding a community for Zaya was a big part of that.
“We felt that California was a place that would allow her to blossom and grow. She’s been able to be accepted and become her here.”
Union added: “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.”
READ MORE: Gabrielle Union slams Florida governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws
Acknowledging that not everyone has the privilege to move away from hostile environments, she also asserted, “We are going to be fighting till 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, and they trust us because we say the hard thing.”
Zaya came out as trans in 2020 and her parents have expressed vocal support of her since.
Florida laws continue to remain hostile to LGBTQ+ people
In May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a large number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws targeting drag shows, bathroom use, gender-affirming care and preferred pronouns.
The legislation ruled that bathrooms and changing rooms would be separated ‘based on biological sex’.
Restrictions have also been placed on adults seeking trans medical care, with trans children being completely blocked from gender-affirming treatment.
A separate bill prevents school employees from sharing preferred pronouns with their students, or asking for them.
Carlos Guillermo Smith, former Democratic Florida state representative, described this as the “largest slate of anti-LGBTQ bills in Florida history.”
DeSantis is currently under fire for axing diversity and inclusion programmes in Disney World Florida.
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