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Justine Lindsay, the NFL's first transgender cheerleader, is determined to create opportunities for future generations. Aged 31, she is currently in her second season as an NFL cheerleader with the Carolina Panthers, having joined the organization in the previous year.
Her journey into the NFL was marked by excitement, and Lindsay shared her initial elation in an Instagram post in March 2022, recounting how she felt like she "blacked out" when she received the call from TopCats director Chandalae Lanouette.
Now, Lindsay sees her role as an NFL cheerleader as an opportunity to make a significant impact on the younger generation. She likens her position to that of a doctor or nurse, highlighting its potential to inspire and pave the way for others in the transgender community.
"I want to change the narrative for my trans sisters and brothers, just to [let them] know that if you have a goal, go for it," Lindsay told Elle Magazine.
"Turn that dream into a reality. Be an NFL cheerleader, or a doctor or a nurse or whatever you set your mind to.
"Everything that I'm going through now, it's bigger than me.
"I'm setting things up for the younger generation. No one is going to stop this show."
The Fairness in Women's Sport Act has been passed in North Carolina and it aims to prevent transgender athletes from competing in sports designated for biological females.
While Riley Gaines expressed her enthusiasm for the legislation, celebrating its approval, Lindsay stressed that it has not discouraged her from persisting in her advocacy.
"I will fight this until I can't fight anymore," Lindsay noted. "It saddens me to see it."