Justine Lindsay recently changed the course of National Football League history. The 29-year-old recently joined the Carolina Panthers’ cheer team, the TopCats, and went on to become the first openly transgender NFL cheerleader. Lindsay revealed herself as transgender to her new friends and the rest of her society in a March Instagram post in which she announced her joining the team. She captioned a picture of the newest cheerleader for the Carolina Panthers, “Cats Out the Bag you are looking at the @topcats as the first Transgender female.” She was grinning while wearing her cheerleading uniform.
Picture matters: As discussed in our most recent JSM research, black, trans, and rocking a bald head in an activity that has long reproduced a particular type of white womanhood. https://t.co/nLnm56s3TK
— June 5, 2022, Lauren Hindman (@laurenhindman)
Lindsay acknowledged that she was extremely afraid when she spoke to BuzzFeed News about coming out via the social media statement. She stated, “There are just a few things you can’t post.” She admitted that not even her closest friend, whom she refers to as a sister, was aware of her transgender identity. With the exception of her home, she had kept it a secret. Lindsay recalled, “I just felt like when I posted it, it doesn’t matter what everyone thinks of me.” “After that, my phone started blowing up.” Lindsay is thought to be the first trans person to serve as an NFL cheerleader, despite the fact that there is no official record of such individuals throughout history.
Lindsay expressed her desire to “break down that door” for future transgender athletes in reference to her history-making accomplishment. While Lindsay had noted on her app that she was transgender, Chandalae Lanouette, the director of the TopCats, explained that the choice to allow her to the squad was only motivated by her skills. “In order to reach that location, you must first pass through the entrance,” according to Lanouette. “My goal is to form a group of people who are complete fire on the field but are remarkable human beings in the locker room, good friends, and good people.”
There hasn’t been much to no progress for women in NFL cheerleading squads, despite the fact that they recently started accepting men on the rosters. The majority of teams continue to favor the stereotypical “all-American” look, where the women are expected to appear like pinup models and act like athletes. Even among the few Black people who serve as NFL dancers, very few have natural hair. While watching “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team,” a CMT reality series about women who are trying out for the Dallas Cowgirls, Lindsay revealed that she had noticed that their hair significantly affected whether or not they were chosen.
She was so relieved when her coach informed her that she could keep her bald head because she enjoys “inspiring other young girls who may be insecure to rock it.” Cheerleaders represent their team at events like community events, fundraisers, and corporate conferences when they aren’t on the sidelines. Lindsay remarked, “This is big,” adding that she is glad to tear down any barriers as a trans woman of color. “More people ought to see this, in my opinion. It’s not because I want to be praised. It’s only done to make the world a better place.
In a statement addressing Lindsay’s decision to become the first openly transgender NFL cheerleader, Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government politics at The Trevor Project, said that the presence of the trans community is “important.” According to Ames, “Our research indicates that LGBTQ youth claim that seeing LGBTQ athletes and artists represented made them feel good about being LGBTQ.” The history of a transgender cheerleader inspires so much more than just success, especially in an organization like the NFL, which holds such an important place in our culture. She may give young people who are watching something to look forward to and a prospect to hold out for.
Lindsay remarked, “I’m glad I was able to break down that door and tell people, ‘Hey, we’re not just sexual beings. We are real people who want to improve ourselves.’ Why not tell the world, I thought, ‘Hey, look, this is a great success.'”
