Justine Lindsay Is Ready To 'Break Down That Door' As The NFL’s First Openly Trans Cheerleader
essence.comtrans cheerleader in NFL history. A post shared by Justine Simone Lindsay (@jus_lindsay_)The 29-year-old is one of the newest members of the Panthers’ TopCats cheerleading squad.
She shared the announcement on her Instagram as the league prepares for its 2022-2023 season. “I’m paving the way for those under me who are scared and afraid to take that step because it is not easy to do…” she shared in a post. “I will continue to be that pioneer I will continue to inspire and help my African American beautiful trans sisters until my last breath.
So please mind your manners and understand that if you can’t say anything nice please keep it to yourself.”In an interview with Buzzfeed News, Lindsay revealed that the news of her joining the cheerleading team acted as a dual announcement since it was the first time she publicly came out as trans to many of her friends and family. “I was so scared,” she told the publication. “There’s just some things you can’t post… I just felt like when I posted it, whatever reaction I get from everyone, it does not matter.
And then my phone started blowing up.”While there is no official record of the history of the NFL’s cheerleading rosters, being that there could have been trans women on teams in the past, Lindsay is confirmed to be the first trans cheerleader within the NFL to be open about her identity.
