Justine Lindsay, who is said to be the NFL’s first openly transgender cheerleader, said she was happy to “break down that door” and share her “huge accomplishment” as a member of the Carolina Panthers’ TopCats.
In an Instagram post three months ago, Lindsay came out as transgender and announced she was joining the TopCats. During a recent interview with BuzzFeed News, she said that her trans identity was previously a secret to everyone except her family.
“It’s a big one,” Lindsay told BuzzFeed News in a report published Saturday. “I think more people need to see this. Not because I want recognition. It’s just to shine a light on what’s going on in the world.”
Lindsay, 29, is listed by the Panthers as an official member of the 2022 TopCats roster, which was posted on the team’s website in April. She told BuzzFeed News that she was “so scared” about her Instagram post in March at first, but now feels comfortable in her historic role at TopCats.
“I’m happy that I was able to break down that door and tell people, ‘Hey, we’re not just sexual beings,'” Lindsay said. “We are actual human beings who want to improve ourselves.” I felt, why not tell the world, ‘Hey, listen, this is a big accomplishment.'”
On Monday, Lindsay acknowledged the “negative energy” in another Instagram post.
TopCats director Chandalae Lanouette told BuzzFeed News that Lindsay identified as transgender on her application for the team, but also noted that Lindsay made the team because of her talent as a cheerleader.
“My goal is to create a team of individuals that are absolute fire on the court, 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 place,” Lanouette said.
