In 2022, Justine Lindsay wrote her name in the history books when she became the NFL’s first openly trans cheerleader after the Carolina Panthers employed her.
But earlier this year, she announced that she wasn’t going to resume her cheerleading duties for the NFL franchise after three seasons, causing many to suggest that she made the decision on her own volition. But she said that was not the case, as she was fired because of her gender identity, and after Donald Trump was re-elected as president of the United States, OUT Magazine reported.
“I was cut because I’m trans,” Lindsay said during an Instagram Live with Gaye Magazine on Saturday. “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?”
“I was devastated. It stung. I was hurt,” she added. Lindsay also stated that though she was “not throwing shade at the organization,” as she loves “them down” and appreciates “everything that they’ve done” for her, she felt like she was “done wrong.”
Lindsay stated that kids who admired her said they were looking forward to seeing her next season, and disappointing them took a toll on her. She said the Panthers “wasn’t even looking at the bigger picture as far as who I was changing lives for.”
“It was like a big slap in the face to not only me but for the youth,” Lindsay added. “And this was right after Trump became president.”
Though the Panthers have cut ties with Lindsay, she said that she still has “a lot of great connections within the NFL,” OUT Magazine reported. She has also set her sights on other endeavors, and they include working on a documentary and doing pageantry work for Miss International Queen 2026.
“For now, I’m focusing on my pageantry work and community involvement, striving to be recognized not just as an NFL cheerleader, but as someone making a positive impact, especially during these uncertain times,” she told Outsports in August when she confirmed she wasn’t returning to the Panthers.
“Being in the NFL was a stepping stone to get me where I need to be, and God is blessing me each and every day, giving me the breath to do the work and change lives. My focus is to educate and uplift the younger generation of leaders to focus on their dreams and goals. Don’t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals, whether they are trans, African American, not American, etc.”
