(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The Carolina Panthers TopCats cheerleading squad has announced the addition of its first transgender NFL cheerleader, Breitbart reported.
The announcement was made via an Instagram post by the new cheerleader, Justine Simone Lindsay.
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“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. “I would like to thank the beautiful and talented dancers who supported me along the way alumni TopCats family and friends for your love and support.”
The TopCats official account did not announce that Lindsay was transgender, but the director, Chandalae Lanouette, made a statement announcing that the squad knew of this during the try out process.
“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,” TopCats director Chandalae Lanouette said.
Several NFL cheer squads have male members, but it appears as if Lindsay is the first openly transgender cheerleader.
“I was so scared. There’s just some things you can’t post,” Lindsay told BuzzFeed.
“I’m happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, hey, we are not just sexual beings,” Lindsay added. “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.”
According to Buzzfeed article, cheerleading squads have not progressed much for women, still leaning toward an “all-American” look. This, apparently, is considered a step in the right direction.
