We Need More Parents Like Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union
Tags: LGBTQ, Parenting, BlackLivesMatter, Family, Transgender

There has been a lot of opinions voiced about Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union’s 12-year-old child Zion.

Zion was able to attend his first pride parade this year. They also walked the runway and have been able to pursue their interest in fashion.

Due to Wade being a multiple-time NBA champion, his stardom has pushed Zion into the spotlight as well. People are asking question after question, and while none of it is anyone’s business but the Wade family, it is a good opportunity for the trans community to share our knowledge.

I don’t want to talk about Zion specifically.

I don’t know them personally, and it’s not up to me or anyone else to decide how to label this child. They might be trans, and they might not. It’s not our business.

However, the way Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union are showing their unconditional love and support for Zion is heartwarming. LGBTQ kids have heartbreaking statistics when it comes to depression, abuse, and suicide.

LGBTQ kids need parents like these. They took Zion to his first pride parade. They let him pursue fashion and even walk the runway. Just recently, Wade referred to Zion and his youngest daughter as “his girls” on Instagram, which ignited a whole new hot topic for social media.

They have accepted Zion for who they are. There is a big anti-LGBTQ belief when young kids begin to question their gender that they’re too young or that they have no idea who they are yet.

When did you realize you loved the section your clothes were in? How old were you when you had your first crush? How old were you when you learned that there was a difference between boys and girls? Did it come naturally to you?

The fact is that you knew one way or the other. You might not have thought about it when you were a kid, but you didn’t have to. You liked what you liked and nobody questioned it because society viewed it as the right way for you.

When trans kids first realize that they aren’t happy with the gender they’ve been boxed into, they are immediately met with confrontation and interrogation.

It shouldn’t have to be this way. Kids should be allowed to go for whatever they like, whether it’s clothes or toys or interests.

When you box a child in, you are forcing them to conform and you’re taking away their voice. You are teaching them that their opinions and feelings don’t matter. This pushes them into the “closet” where they slowly begin to shut down. Soon they don’t talk as much or start to be dishonest. They lose trust in their parents, who are the very people that are supposed to make them feel safe and loved in the world.

Zion is very lucky to have supportive parents. A lot of the time, when boys start acting feminine they are met with violence and brutal punishments. Young boys have been killed by their own fathers. Young boys have been sexually abused and exposed to sexually explicit content in an attempt to “fix” them. Unfortunately, supportive parents are few and far between in the LGBTQ community.

There are almost no safe spaces for LGBTQ kids, which means having supportive parents is that much more important. The love starts with the parents. If the parents don’t show love to the child, how are they supposed to learn to show love to themselves?

If you aren’t going to accept your child for who they are no matter what, then why are you having children?

Children aren’t little humans you can mold into whatever you want or think is right. The human brain is so incredible. Children have their own personalities. They have their own thoughts and feelings towards different things.

As a parent, it is your job to teach them but not to dictate. You are the caretaker, teacher, doctor, therapist, best friend, and disciplinarian. You are not a tyrant or slave master. As children grow and begin to show their personalities more, it is your job to provide them with a safe place to do so.

There are so many bad things that could happen to a child, but being LGBTQ is not one of them and it’s past time to stop acting like it. Your child could have a chronic illness. They could be kidnapped. They could be raped. They could be killed while at school or anywhere else.

You should be grateful that they’re healthy and alive instead of breaking them down because they aren’t what you thought they would be. We need more parents that actually love unconditionally.