Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Cheer on Son at Miami Pride Parade

It’s no secret that actress, Gabrielle Union, and her husband, basketball star Dwyane Wade, take parenting healthy well-adjusted, happy children seriously. Union along with her daughter Kaavia and two stepsons, Zion and Zaire Wade and other Union Wade family members like Wade’s son Xavier Zechariah, 5, and nephew Dahveon Morris, 17, attended Miami Pride Parade to support 11-year old Zion’s choice to come out as an openly gay pre-teen. Zion and Zaire are Wade’s children with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches.

And although Dwyane Wade didn’t attend the parade in Miami, due to being in Toronto for an NBA game, that didn’t stop the supportive father from cheering his son on from afar. Wade shared a photo that included Zion, Union and a host of other people, captioning it, “Zion had his… cheering section today. Wish I was there to see you smile kid!”

He also posted a photo to his Instagram Story with a caption that read: “We support each other with Pride!”

 

Gabrielle Union Dywane Wade Miami Pride

Gabrielle Union, along with his older brother, picked up her husband’s slack by going all out for young Zion. They also posted photos and even danced on a float at the parade.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade openly supporting Zion’s choice to come out at such a young age is refreshing. Even though Black people have been a vital part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community, Black children who are openly gay are often times not embraced due to homophobia, homonegativity and religious intolerance. In fact, being gay in the Black community has been considered anti-ethical.

Studies have indicated that the Black church has played a major role in the persecution and isolation of Black gay men. And with 80% of Black Americans being extremely religious, families often abandon their children and many gay teens are left to fend for themselves. This is disproportionately higher for Black kids who choose to express their sexual identity.

What’s also very telling is the notion that being gay in the Black community equates to not being masculine. Although homophobia is prominent across all racial and ethnic groups, stereotypes within Black culture of hypermasculinity seem to amplify the disparities and biases against Black gay men and boys in our communities.

Hopefully, the example that Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are setting will become the standard among Black families to accept and love their children as they are. There is exigent demand to protect our children at all costs no matter who they love.

 

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