NFL's First Trans Cheerleader Justine Lindsay Says She Was Cut From Panthers Dance Team Because She's Trans

Justine Lindsay, who became the NFL‘s first trans cheerleader in 2022, is now opening up about why she was fired in August. Lindsay told her story in an Instagram Live video, saying she was cut from the Carolina Panthers’ dance team, TopCats, because of her trans identity.

“I was cut because I’m trans,” Lindsay said on the stream, according to Them. “I don’t wanna hear nobody saying ‘She didn’t wanna come back.’ Why the hell would I not wanna come back to an organization that I’ve been a part of for three years?” 

Lindsay added that she was “devastated” and “hurt,” but she is “not throwing shade at the organization.”

“I love them,” she added. “I appreciate everything that they’ve done for me.”

When did Justine Lindsay come out as trans?

When she joined the TopCats in 2022, Lindsay opened up about her journey and told the public that she is trans.

“I’m happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, ‘Hey, we are not just sexual beings,’” Lindsay told BuzzFeed when she joined the team. “‘We are actual human beings who want to better ourselves.’ I felt like, Why not tell the world: ‘Hey, listen, this is a great accomplishment.’”

The trailblazing dancer also said she was scared to come out, but still found the courage to tell her story on social media.

“Cats Out the Bag you are looking at the newest member of the Carolina Panthers TopCats Cheerleader’s @topcats as the first Transgender female,” Lindsay wrote on Instagram in 2022, along with a photo of herself posing in her cheerleading uniform.

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Are the NFL’s cheerleaders more diverse?

According to BuzzFeed, the NFL recently started allowing men cheerleaders, but the league still hasn’t done enough for diversity. Many of the teams still prefer to uphold white beauty standards, while Black cheerleaders are seldom highlighted.

Lindsay told BuzzFeed that she was relieved when her coach allowed her to show off her bald look as she joined the TopCats. The goal, Lindsay said, is to “inspire other young girls who may be insecure rocking their bald look,” per them.