Former Heat star Dwyane Wade and family left Florida because they ‘would not be accepted’

A farewell to Wade County took place in 2021, when Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and actress-wife Gabrielle Union sold their Miami Beach house for $22 million.

On Thursday, a new episode of Showtime’s “Headliners,” featured Wade talking about why he no longer lives in Florida.

And it’s down to the political climate of the state.

Specifically, LGBTQ+ legislation — the Wades have a 15-year-old transgender daughter.

In standing by his transgender daughter, Dwyane Wade is more of a leader than DeSantis | Opinion

Here’s the full exchange, as reported by People Magazine, D-Wade had with host Rachel Nichols:

“What do you have to say to some of those state legislators who maybe have your jersey in their closets, who came and brought their kids to your games to cheer for you?,” Nichols asked.

“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade said. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.

“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, who retired as the Heat’s all-time leading scorer in 2019, bought the Miami Beach mansion with Union in 2010. They began shopping the home in 2019, and currently call Los Angeles home.

Wade is also a minority owner of the Utah Jazz.

In 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill. Critics called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” the bill read, in part, in 2022.

The state’s Board of Education recently expanded the ban “on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades,” the Associated Press reported.

Legislation on gender-transition treatments, bathroom use and keeping children out of drag shows also was approved in the House, the Associated Press reported.