NFL’s first trans cheerleader will not be back with the Carolina Panthers this season
Justine Lindsay spent three years with the TopCats as she made history. The trans cheerleader called the experience a 'stepping stone.' The post NFL’s first trans cheerleader will not be back with the Carolina Panthers this season appeared first on Outsports.
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Justine Lindsay made history in 2022 when she was hired by the Carolina Panthers and became the first transgender cheerleader in the NFL. After three seasons with the TopCats, she is moving on.
Lindsay confirmed to Outsports that she is not on the TopCats roster this season. She did not want to comment beyond this statement:
“For now, I’m focusing on my pageantry work and community involvement, striving to be recognized not just as an NFL cheerleader, but as someone making a positive impact, especially during these uncertain times,” she said.
“Being in the NFL was a stepping stone to get me where I need to be, and God is blessing me each and everyday giving me the breath to do the work and change lives. My focus is to educate and uplift the younger generation of leaders to focus on their dreams and goals. Don’t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals whether they are trans, African American, not American, etc.”
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Carolina Panthers hire NFL’s first transgender cheerleader
Justine Lindsay got the job because of her talent, but is also proud to be a role model for Black trans women.Carolina Panthers hire NFL’s first transgender cheerleader
Justine Lindsay got the job because of her talent, but is also proud to be a role model for Black trans women.
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Outsports reached out to the TopCats for comment and as of the time of publication we had not received an answer.
Lindsay said her next focus is to be a sportscaster and is going to school to further her career. “I’ll see you all next year on a football field, either conducting interviews or on the sidelines showing off my dance skills,” she told Outsports.
Her hiring in 2022 was celebrated, with Chandalae Lanouette, the then-TopCats director, saying Lindsay was chosen for her talent, not as a way to break any barrier, adding that Lindsay said she was trans on her application.
“This is big,” Lindsay told Buzzfeed in 2022. “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.”
For three seasons, Lindsay danced and cheered on the sidelines and in numerous public appearances with the team, rocking a bald look that became her signature. These days, she is sporting a totally new hairstyle:
One of her main focuses these days is her work with local charities, such as Time Out Youth and Southern Equality, both that seek to help LGBTQ people, especially young people and those in the South, where LGBTQ rights are under great stress.
Another focus is pageantry work, fitting for the 2025 Ms. Charlotte Black Pride Lady Winner.
You can follow Justine Lindsay on Instagram.
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The post NFL’s first trans cheerleader will not be back with the Carolina Panthers this season appeared first on Outsports.
