Justine Lindsay, who made history as the first openly transgender cheerleader in the NFL, has claimed she was let go from her role due to her gender identity — and the changing political climate in the US.
During a candid Instagram Live interview with Gaye Magazine, Lindsay alleged that her departure from the Carolina Panthers’ cheerleading squad, the TopCats, was not by choice.
“I was cut because I’m trans,” she said. “I don’t wanna hear nobody saying: ‘She didn’t wanna come back.’ Why the hell would I not wanna come back to an organisation that I’ve been a part of for three years? That makes no sense. I was cut.
“I was devastated. It stung. I was hurt.”
From Groundbreaker to Departure
Lindsay joined the TopCats in 2022, becoming the first out transgender woman in NFL cheerleading history — a moment widely celebrated at the time. However, she left the team in August 2025 ahead of the upcoming season, sparking speculation around the nature of her exit.
Initially, Lindsay told Outsports that she wouldn’t be returning for a fourth season, citing a desire to focus on “pageantry work and community involvement”.
But in her recent interview, she revealed there was more to the story, linking her dismissal to the return of Donald Trump and the wave of anti-trans legislation gaining traction across the United States.
Alongside broader political shifts, she also pointed to a change in leadership: “A new coach came in,” she said, while also implying that some of her former teammates “know the truth”.
Staying Visible and Vocal
Despite the setback, Lindsay is determined to remain in the public eye. She is currently developing a documentary project and plans to compete in the Miss International Queen pageant, the world’s largest international beauty pageant for transgender women, in 2026.
“Being in the NFL was a stepping stone to get me where I need to be,” she said. “My focus is to educate and uplift the younger generation of leaders to focus on their dreams and goals.”
She added: “Don’t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals — whether they are trans, African American, not American…”
In a separate interview with Gay Times, Lindsay opened up further, saying:
“I didn’t always feel I got the backing I was supposed to.”
Legacy in Progress
Justine Lindsay’s trailblazing journey broke barriers in one of the most traditionally conservative institutions in American sport. As she charts a new path through advocacy, pageantry and media, her message to young people is clear: visibility matters, and so does the fight for inclusion.
