CULTURE WARS DRIVE FORMER HEAT STAR OUT OF FLORIDA

John McDonald

As the Miami Heat make another playoff run, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer has moved his family out of state due to the toxic political climate.

In an interview with sportscaster Rachel Nichols, Dwayne Wade revealed he no longer lives in Florida. The former Heat star and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, have a 15-yearold daughter, Zaya, who is trans. Wade said he does not want to raise her in a hostile environment.

“I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal individual decisions,” Wade said, adding, “my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there.”

Wade’s decision to leave Florida comes as the state’s leading LGBT civil rights organization has issued a travel advisory in the wake of continued attacks by Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee.

In an unprecedented move, Equality Florida warned LGBT travelers of heightened risks to their health, safety and freedom