What Dwyane Wade Can Teach Us About Parenting LGBTQ + Children
The clip, in which former NBA star Dwyane Wade talks to Ellen DeGeneres, hits social media this week as a touching example of how every parent should react if their child tells them they identify as LGBTQ +.
When Wade’s child, who now bears the name Zaya and uses his pronouns, approached his father and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, about change, they did three things that could serve as a simple yet effective plan for the rest of their lives. US.
Listen
As parents, we have many responsibilities, large and small. But the main one is to be the best listeners our children can have. Wade explains to DeGeneres:
We take our responsibilities and those of parents very seriously. So when our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with a problem, when our child comes home with something, it is our job as parents to listen to this to provide them with the best information we can, the best feedback that we can, and it won’t change, because now sexuality [or gender] is involved.
Provide unconditional support
If your child identifies as LGBTQ +, this is an opportunity not only to support him as an individual, but also to offer support and protection to the entire community. In particular, as public figures, the Wade family already seem to understand the important role they can play in raising awareness and acceptance from the wider LGBTQ + community. He says:
One day Zaya came home and said: “Hello, call me Zaya, and I am ready to take on this,” I looked at her and said: “You are the leader. You are a leader and this is our opportunity to let you be the voice. ” Right now, it is through us, because she is 12 years old, but ultimately through her.
Arm yourself with information
You have listened, you have supported, and now it is time to find out what this identity means for your child and his future. Wade says that he and his wife get information wherever they can find it, but especially from the locals themselves:
Now our job is … to go out and get information, make contact with all our relationships. My wife reached out to everyone involved in the [LGBTQ + Show] Pose . We’re just trying to gather as much information as possible to give our child the best opportunity to perform as best he can.
DeGeneres also mentioned that Wade and his family are working closely with GLSEN , which aims to create a supportive learning environment for LGBT youth and can be a good resource for these children and their loved ones.