Trans Kids Deserve Nothing Less Than Unconditional Love and Support
Tags: LGBTQ, Love, Family, Relationships, Transgender

I don’t think the 3x NBA champion Dwayne Wade cares if you take him off your favorite player’s list for loving his daughter.

One of the first rules you learn as an LGBTQ person is to avoid reading the comments. We avoid the comments section like the plague. It’s almost always nothing but a cesspool of vile inhumane opinions. Recently, Dwayne Wade’s daughter officially came out and our rule became as important as ever.

Headline after headline continue to intentionally misgender and misname Zaya even after coming out. Don’t confuse this subtle transphobic tactic for simple ignorance or confusion.

Unfortunately for her, the world has been watching this whole time as she discovers herself. While she has an amazing support system, I can only imagine the pain she’s undergone watching herself become a “hot topic” and meme all over the internet.

Why shouldn’t Dwayne Wade love his child?

Why should he deny her and push her away? Why would he traumatize her by refusing her love and support when she needs it the most? Refusing to listen to her, deadname her, and show blatant transphobia would be detrimental to her growth and development. It would shove her into depression and other mental illnesses that will take years to unravel and learn to cope with.

Refusing her love could mean losing her altogether. It could drive her to suicide. It could cause her to shut down altogether. It would destroy their father-daughter relationship.

Why would he risk that to please people he doesn’t even know? Because you bought his jersey? Because you cheered for him when he was winning an NBA title?

Dwayne Wade is showing you how to love your children unconditionally.

“We are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community and we’re proud allies as well. And we take our roles and our responsibilities as parents very seriously,” Wade told Ellen. “Zion, born as a boy, came home and said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I am ready to live my truth. I want to be referenced as ‘she’ and ‘her.’ I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.’” In response, Wade said it’s their job as parents to get information so their child can be “her best self.” — Vox.com

If you’re not prepared to love an LGBTQ child unconditionally, you don’t need to have children. D Wade and Gabrielle Union are the parents every LGBTQ person needs.

Countless queer kids face homelessness, neglect, and abuse after coming out. Kids are forced into torturous conversion camps in a vile attempt to change them. They’re pushed into therapy sessions with biased therapists who throw the Bible at them instead of actually helping.

They’re forced to figure out how to make it in a world set up against them. LGBTQ young adults end up having to make a choice between their family and living their truth. Holidays go from being full of love and laughter to being spent alone.

Why would you wish any of that on a child?

If you’re looking at his parenting with anything other than admiration, support, and ultimate respect then you should take a step back and figure out why there’s hate in your heart.