.png)
📷
Writer: Raven Harper
NBA legend and retiree, Dwayne Wade and wife, Gabrielle Union, make sure everyone in their household “gets seen,” in response to questions about his youngest Zion and his sexuality that has been a hot topic in recent news during an interview on All the Smoke podcast.
Wade sat down with retired professional basketball players and host, Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson for episode 9 of All the Smoke podcast on the Showtime Basketball network, where he discussed life as a retired NBA player, his family and more. The topic of parenting came up in the conversation regarding how life has been as a father ever since he won custody of his kids while playing in the NBA, where his response was, “I needed them and they needed me,” Wade stated.
Going deeper into how it’s been parenting, he also mentioned how now a retired dad, he has to take on the full responsibilities of a parent, paying much more attention to them. “I’m able to support them (my kids) in different ways. It’s my hardest job but it’s my most fulfilling one.” He told his older kids Zaire and Zion that he’s learning how to parent them individually because they are not the same.
Recently, one of his youngest, Zion has come out. Wade was asked in his sit down with Barnes and Jackson how he deals with that and the responses from the world since he and his family have been so open about it.
“In my household, we talk about making sure our kids be seen by both of us. I’ve watched my son from day one become into who she’s eventually coming into. Nothing changes with my love, nothing changed with my responsibilities. Only thing I got to do now is get smarter and educate myself,” Wade expressed.
📷
When we often look at households where the son has come out, the parents especially the father tend to disprove his son’s identity and choices. Here we see a father who pays attention to his children close enough to notice these changes, choose to continue to love him the same, and to support him publically and enough to educate himself on the correct pronouns.
Although this is not the first time a father has supported his child coming out, it is something we should admire because of how public the Wades have decided to be with it with the platforms that they have. “When I respond to things socially, I’m not responding because you’re hurting my feelings. I respond because I understand my platform. I understand that I’m speaking for a lot of people that don’t have the same voice I have,” Wade clarified during the interview.
The entire Wade family has been supportive and public about their own all on social media.
The entire family posted a group pic of Instagram wearing shirts that say, please remain inclusive, and dedicated to equality. Gabrielle Union has even posted stories with Zion at Miami Pride they attended together, and older brother Zaire even posted a picture with Zion with the caption; We didn’t ask for y’all opinion.
📷
Watch the actual interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2945&v=qqwBZqndDUg&feature=emb_logo
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2945&v=qqwBZqndDUg&feature=emb_logo
Comments