Justine Lindsay, the NFL’s first trans cheerleader, is not done making history

Words by Jordan Robledo

Justine Lindsay memorably shattered barriers for the NFL as the league’s first openly trans cheerleader with the Carolina Panthers’ TopCats. Hailing from North Carolina, the performer’s historic achievement felt like it was written in the stars: her mother, aunt and grandmother all worked Panthers games when she was a child.

“They would bring home [these] magazine-style portfolios of the entire football roster, different sponsors,” she tells GAY TIMES. “When I saw the TopCats in the book, I was just in awe... I was like, ‘I want to be a part of that.’”

But Lindsay wasn’t just an adoring young fan — she had the talent to back up her aspirations. Throughout her teens, she honed her craft on her local dance team before moving to Los Angeles to train under the legendary Debbie Allen at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, where she absorbed techniques and choreography from some of the industry’s biggest names.

Although her dance journey paused after high school, the dream of joining the TopCats remained a driving force. In 2022, it became reality when she earned her spot on the squad, leaving an iconic mark on the NFL with her infectious personality and show-stopping talent.

After three years with the TopCats, however, Lindsay revealed that she would not be returning for a fourth season. But instead of slowing down, she has set her sights on even bigger stages and new aspirations.

In light of her incredible run, GAY TIMES sat down with Lindsay to reflect on her dance and cheer beginnings, her TopCats audition, the weight of making LGBTQIA+ history, and what comes next.