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Dwyane Wade proudly talks about child Zion joining LGBTQ2 community: ‘Nothing changes in my love’

ABOVE: Dwyane Wade opens up about supporting child who belongs to LGBTQ community – Dec 20, 2019

In an interview on Wednesday, Dwyane Wade shared how he’s changed for the better since his 12-year-old child Zion Malachi Airamis came out as a member of the LGBTQ2 community.

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“I watched my son, from Day 1, become … who she has now eventually come into [sic],” the former NBA player said on a recent episode of the podcast All the Smoke.
“For me … nothing changes in my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. All I have to do now is get smarter [and] educate myself more. That’s my job.”

READ MORE: Dwyane Wade responds to trolls who mocked son’s acrylic nails in photo

Wade, 37, said Zion has “way more” courage and strength than he has ever had.

“You can learn something from your kids,” he said.

Wade said a priority for him and his wife Gabrielle Union is to make sure their kids understand “the power in their voice.”

“We want them to be whoever they feel that they can be in this world. That’s our goal. Understand you can be whoever and you can be whatever,” he said.

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READ MORE: Celebrities rally around Gabrielle Union following America’s Got Talent exit

Wade said he had to “look [himself] in the mirror” when he realized Zion was different and ask himself: “‘What if your son comes home and tells you he’s gay? What are you going to do? How are you going to be? How are you going to act?’

“It ain’t about him. He knows who he is,” said Wade. “It’s about you. Who are you?”

Wade and Union have a loving blended family. Zaire Blessing Dwyane, Xavier Zechariah and Zion are from Wade’s prior relationship. He and Union welcomed a baby girl named Kaavia James Union Wade in 2018, and they also have legal guardianship over Wade’s nephew, Dahveon Morris.

Wade recently made headlines when he spoke out against trolls who criticized Zion’s appearance during Thanksgiving.

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The criticism came after Union shared a family photo on her Instagram account. In it, Wade holds Kaavia, and Zion, wearing acrylic nails, is standing between their father and Union.

Comments started coming in criticizing the parents for allowing Zion to sport acrylic nails.

“Why are they encouraging this at such a young age? It one thing to accept it but… damn,” one person wrote.

“So sad these boys turning into girls,” an Instagram user commented, while another said: “The nails is a lil extreme. Y’all let this go to [sic] far and he’s just a kid.”

READ MORE: NBC opening formal investigation into ‘America’s Got Talent’

But Wade wasted no time jumping to Zion’s defence. He took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the “hate.”

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“I’ve seen some post-Thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo. Stupidity is apart [sic] of this world we live in — so I get it,” he wrote.

“But here’s the thing — I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love & a smile!”

Wade has spoken before on the importance of inclusion. The family attended Miami Pride this year and shared their colourful day on Instagram. Wade posted a photo of Union, 47, and Zion on his Instagram stories, along with the text: “We support each other with Pride!”

READ MORE: Simon Cowell’s smoking caused clash with Gabrielle Union on America’s Got Talent, report says

“I’m from the inner city of Chicago and I wasn’t told that. I wasn’t told I could be anybody and do anything,” he said earlier this year.

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“It’s my job to be that role model, to be that voice in my kids’ lives, to let them know that you can conquer the world and that you have the support of your father, you have the support of your family every step of the way.

“So go and be your amazing self, and we’re going to sit back and love you and support you no matter what.”

— With files from Meaghan Wray

 

Meghan.Collie@globalnews.ca

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