Justine Lindsay and the Carolina Panthers have made history.
Lindsay has been hired by the Panthers as the league’s first openly transgender cheerleader, joining the Topcats for the upcoming season. Lindsay gave an interview this week with Buzzfeed News about the accomplishment, and what it means for not just the NFL, but society writ large:
Lindsay was relieved when her coach told her she could keep her bald head, and said she is happy to “inspire other young girls who may be insecure rocking their bald look.”
When cheerleaders aren’t performing on the sidelines, they are representing the team at everything from community events to fundraisers to business conferences. Lindsay said she’s proud to knock down any barriers 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.”
Chandalae Lanouette, who directs the Topcats, noted that it was 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.
