Justine Lindsay

{{Infobox person

| name = Justine Simone Lindsay

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|9|19}}

| birth_place = North Carolina, U.S.

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| known_for = NFL Cheerleader

| education = The Art Institute of Charlotte
Johnson C. Smith University
North Carolina State University

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| occupation = dancer, cheerleader, podcaster

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Justine Simone Lindsay (born September 19, 1992) is an American dancer, professional cheerleader, and podcaster. She has been a member of the Carolina TopCats cheerleading team associated with the Carolina Panthers since 2022.{{Cite web |first=Brooke |last=Cersosimo |title=First Openly Transgender NFL cheerleader Justine Lindsay a 'Face of the Possible'|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/first-openly-transgender-nfl-cheerleader-justine-lindsay-a-face-of-the-possible|website=NFL|date=19 November 2022}} Lindsay is the first openly transgender cheerleader in the National Football League.

Education

Lindsay attended Johnson C. Smith University, where she was a member of the Golden Bullettes dance team, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from North Carolina State University.{{cite web |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/justine-lindsay-what-to-know-about-transgender-nfl-cheerleader/where-did-she-go-to-school-2/ |last=Thompson|first=Eliza|title=Who is Justine Lindsay? 5 Things to Know About the NFL's 1st Openly Transgender Cheerleader|publisher=Us Weekly|date=7 June 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Justine Lindsay - Professional Profile, Photos on Backstage |url=https://www.backstage.com/u/justine-lindsay/ |access-date=24 Aug 2022 |website=Backstage}} She also earned an associate degree from The Art Institute of Charlotte. In 2012, while an undergraduate student, Lindsay performed in a halftime show with the St. Augustine's University marching band. {{Cite web |first=Rizu|last=Shukla|title=Who is Justine Lindsay…as Images Go Viral on Instagram|url= https://thesportsgrail.com/who-is-justine-lindsay-nfl-carolina-panthers-topcats-transgender-cheerleader-as-images-go-viral-on-instagram/|website=The Sports-Grail|date=24 September 2023}}

Career

Lindsay hosts a podcast on Spotify called Keeping It Sweet with Justine.{{cite web | url=https://anchor.fm/gabriela-lindsay | title=Keeping it Sweet w/ JustinE Pod • A podcast on Anchor }}

= NFL Cheerleading =

In March 2022, Lindsay became the first openly transgender person to make a National Football League Cheerleading team when she joined the Carolina TopCats.{{Cite web|last=Factora|first=James|title=Carolina Panthers' Justine Lindsay Is the First Openly Trans NFL Cheerleader|url=https://www.them.us/story/the-first-trans-cheerleader-in-nfl-history-joined-the-carolina-panthers |website=them.|date=2022-06-06|access-date=2022-06-07 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Paige |title=Justine Lindsay Is The NFL's First Openly Trans Cheerleader |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paigeskinner/justine-lindsay-nfl-first-trans-cheerleader |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=BuzzFeed News |date=5 June 2022 |language=en}} While there is no official record of the history of the National Football League's cheerleading rosters, and therefore it is possible that other transgender women could have been on teams before, Lindsay is the first transgender woman on a team to be open about her identity.{{cite web | url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/justine-lindsay-first-trans-cheerleader/|last=Arion|first=Aley|title=Justine Lindsay is Ready to 'Break Down That Door' as the NFL's First Openly Trans Cheerleader|website=Essence|date=8 June 2022}} After making the team, Lindsay revealed she was transgender via a post on her Instagram.{{Cite web |last=Badham|first=Rachel|title=NFL's first openly trans cheerleader wants to 'break down the door' for other trans athletes|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/06/06/justine-lindsay-nfl-trans-cheerleader-carolina-panthers/|date=2022-06-06|access-date=2022-06-07|website=PinkNews}}{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Wynne |date=2022-06-07 |title=Justine Lindsay is the first openly trans cheerleader in the NFL |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/07/1103426872/justine-lindsay-first-openly-trans-nfl-cheerleader |access-date=2022-06-07}} In June 2022, the news that Lindsay was the first transgender cheerleader in the National Football League became public after an article was posted about her on BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed had found her post about making the Carolina TopCats, and coming out as a transgender woman, on Instagram.{{Cite web |title=Justine Lindsay makes history as NFL's first openly transgender cheerleader |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/justine-lindsay-makes-history-as-nfl-first-openly-transgender-cheerleader-carolina-panthers-221521967.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=au.sports.yahoo.com |date=6 June 2022 |language=en-AU}} She also was selected with a bald head, and stated that she hoped to inspire other young people who might feel insecure about their bald look and break down barriers about gender and appearance, stating:

I'm happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, "Hey, we are not just sexual beings ... 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."

After facing some backlash due to Lindsay's hiring, the Panthers made the following official statement to the National Public Radio: "Members of the TopCats are hired based on their qualifications and abilities. Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin. We wish all the TopCats, including Justine Lindsay, an incredible season."{{cite web | url=https://www.wunc.org/2022-06-07/justine-lindsay-is-the-first-openly-trans-cheerleader-in-the-nfl | title=Justine Lindsay is the first openly trans cheerleader in the NFL | date=7 June 2022 }}