Dwyane Wade, Barbra Streisand, other celebrity parents who have spoken out in support of LGBTQ children
"Don’t put your wants and needs on [your kids]," he said.
In honor of Miami Pride in April, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union showed their full support of their 12-year-old son Zion.
“We support each other with Pride!” Wade wrote on social media with a photo of his wife and Zion, who held a rainbow flag fan and had a LGBTQ ribbon attached to his tank top.
In a new interview with Variety out Wednesday, the NBA legend expounded on his views of family, love and support no matter what the circumstances.
"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 said.
Wade had another message for parents.
"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," he said.
He went on, “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.”
But Wade isn't the only outspoken celebrity who believes Pride should be all year-round.
Here's a look at some of the other celebs who believe love is love:
Magic Johnson
In 2017, Johnson spoke to Ellen DeGeneres about his son EJ, who came out as gay in 2013.
“I think it’s all about you not trying to decide what your daughter or son should be, or what you want them to become. It’s all about loving them no matter who they are," he said.
He added, "When my son came out, I was so happy for him, and happy for us as parents ... EJ is amazing.”
Cher
Cher has been an icon for the LGBTQ community for decades and when her son Chaz Bono came to her to tell her he wanted to transition years back, she was supportive.
"I didn’t have a hard time in the beginning when Chaz came to see me and told me, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I said, ‘Well, if you’re miserable, then you’ve got to do it.’" Cher told The Sunday Times in 2013.
Cher even tries to educate others on what it's like to be trans.
“For the people who don’t understand it I try to help them understand, by saying, you know, ‘I just love being a woman so much, but if I woke up tomorrow and I was a man I couldn’t function. And that’s the only way to describe it to someone who doesn’t understand," she added in that 2013 interview.
Sally Field
Sally Field not only has spoken out in support of her son Sam, she's appeared in a campaign with him for the Equality Act.
"The #EqualityAct extends civil rights protections to my son and all LGBTQ people across the nation. I’m proud to join @HRC in supporting this historic piece of legislation," she tweeted earlier this year, along with an adorable video of her Skyping her son, but not really understanding the new technology.
In the video, she shows how much she understands and appreciates her son.
Barbra Streisand
Streisand's son Jason Gould came out to his parents in the mid-1980's and years later, the iconic singer told The Advocate magazine that she never wants her son "to be anything but what he is."
"He is bright, kind, sensitive, caring, and a very conscientious and good person ... What more could a parent ask for in their child? I have been truly blessed. Most parents feel that their child is particularly special, and I am no different. I have a wonderful son. My only wish for my son, Jason, is that he continues to experience a rich life of love, happiness, joy, and fulfillment, both creatively and personally," she added.
Streisand went straight to the point and said that, "Nobody on this earth has the right to tell anyone that their love for another human being is morally wrong."
Marcia Gay Harden
Marcia Gay Harden, who, like Field, also advocated for the Equality Act, told Yahoo that her son Hudson is "openly gay... and, of course, I accept him. I love him unconditionally. My mother had acceptance and unconditional love for all of us."
Her support extends beyond being an advocate for him; they work together too! Harden said in an interview with ABC News that her son is a makeup artistand that he's gotten her ready for events.
“My son Hudson is amazing,” Harden said in an appearance on “Popcorn with Peter Travers.” “We were upstate in the barn and he said, ‘Mom, I’ve done myself and I need to do you or one of the sisters. Can I please do you? And I said, ‘Sure buddy.’ So we went upstairs in the barn and we set up some rudimentary lighting. And he did a whole makeup look on me. And it’s great.”
Fans had an opportunity to see Harden and her son in action when he posted the video of their makeup session on YouTube.
Marie Osmond
In 2013, the singer told Diane Sawyer that she wanted the LGBTQ community to have equal rights, including the right to marry, because of her daughter, Jessica Blosil.
"The God I believe in is a God of love," she said.
“I believe in her civil rights, as a mother. I think my daughter deserves everything she desires in life," she added. "She's a wonderful child. I don't think God made a one color flower, I think he made many."
Annette Bening
Two years ago, the "Captain Marvel" star spoke to The Guardian about her trans son Stephen Ira.
“I’m super proud of him,” she said.
She also does her best to protect his personal life and keep whatever her son wants private.
“I leave it to him to say what he wants about his life. I don’t think it’s fair for me to speak for any of my kids, quite frankly. Not that I wouldn’t like to, ha!” she added.
Editor's note: This was originally published on June 19, 2019.
