Who is Justine Lindsay? NFL's first openly trans cheerleader is smashing barriers
The National Football League has hired its first openly transgender cheerleader, 29-year-old Justine Lindsay. Back in March, Lindsay announced on Instagram that she made the Topcats, the cheerleading squad for the Carolina Panthers. She also came out as a transgender in the same post.
"Cats Out the Bag you are looking at the newest member of the Carolina Panthers TopCats Cheerleader’s @topcats as the first Transgender female l. I would like to thank the beautiful and talented dancers who supported me along the way alumni TopCats family and friends for your love and support. I would not have gotten to this moment in my life if it wasn’t for the support. Also to my beautiful coach @chandalaelanouette you are a special being that I truly cherish thank you taking that leap of faith on me to be apart of your legacy and so many others. This is a moment I will never forget and I cannot wait to show you all what this girl has to bring. Thank you @topcats a dream come true," she wrote in the post.
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NFL does not keep a record of its cheerleaders. However, Lindsay is believed to be the first openly transgender female hired by the league. Talking about her Instagram post, Lindsay told Buzzfeed, "I was so scared. There’s just some things you can’t post.”
Who is Justine Lindsay?
Linsday's Instagram bio says that apart from being an NFL cheerleader, she is a 'dancer, podcaster and YouTuber'. Lindsay had only confided in her family that she was trans. Not even her best friend knew about it.
Topcats' director Chandalae Lanouette said that it is Lindsay's talent that landed her on the squad. "My goal is to create a team of individuals that are absolute fire on the field but are incredible human beings in the locker room, good friends, good people, and at the end of the day, you have to walk through the door first to get to that spot,” Lanouette said.
Lindsay said she was relieved when her coach told her she could keep her head bald. She is glad to be able to “inspire other young girls who may be insecure rocking their bald look.” “I’m happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, ‘Hey, we are not just sexual beings,’” Lindsay said. “‘We are actual human beings who want to better ourselves.’ I felt like, Why not tell the world: 'Hey, listen, this is a great accomplishment.'”
Lindsay also said that she is proud to smash any barrier as a Black trans woman. “This is big,” she said. “I think more people need to see this. It’s not because I want recognition. It’s just to shed light on what’s going on in the world.”