Dwyane Wade On Supporting Son Attending Gay Pride Parade: It’s Zion’s Story To Tell

Dwyane Wade On Supporting Son Attending Gay Pride Parade: It’s Zion’s Story To Tell

Back in April, former NBA star Dwyane Wade and his family (along with wife Gabrielle Union) supported his young son Zion as he attended Miami Gay Pride. Now, Wade is discussing his decision—and the backlash he received, in a new interview.

Celebrity kids are judged very harshly, as many fans feel that they should completely mirror their famous parents—both in looks and behavior. For this reason, many celebrities choose to keep their kids out of the spotlight, but some choose to proudly share their offspring with the world. One such parent is Dwyane Wade who decided to openly support his 11-year-old son Zion, when the young boy attended Miami Pride earlier this year.

The response to Wade’s support of his son was mixed, as some commended him for his parenting, while others expressed their belief that Zion was too young to be in attendance. Addressing his decision for the first time, Wade recently opened up about why he chose to support his son’s choice.

On why he believes family support is so important, Wade said this:

“I don’t really talk about it much because it’s Zion’s story to tell. I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job. And my job as a father is to facilitate their lives and to support them and be behind them in whatever they want to do.”

He also offered up some advice for parents who may expect all kids to be the same:

“I’m asked a question about my kids a lot from a sports perspective. I think people expect you to parent each kids the same. They are all different, and I have to get to know them and where they are. I have to say to most parents, get to know your kids. Don’t put your wants and needs on them.”

Wade also addressed the backlash he received and not needing accolades for doing what he is expected to do as a parent:

“This is my job as a father. I’m very uneasy about accolades that come from supporting my kids or the negativity that comes from it. I’m doing what every parent has to do. Once you bring kids into this world, you become unselfish. It’s my job to be their role model, to be their voice in my kids’ lives, to let them know you can conquer the world. So, go and be your amazing self and we’re going to sit back and just love you.”

Up next for Dwyane Wade is his forthcoming memoir 3 Dimensional, set to be released this fall.

What are your thoughts on Dwyane Wade’s comments about supporting his son? Let us know in the comments!