*Diversity and inclusion are on the president’s hit list, but the NFL is sticking with it with its roster of openly gay cheerleaders. Citing Out Sports reports that NFL teams (a quarter of them, to be specific) have included male cheerleaders in their squads.
The site notes the shift of its challenge of longstanding stereotypes of cheerleading, which has been historically dominated by women.
The movement has struck a positive nerve, fan and team support and the seeds were planted for a more inclusive environment on and off the field. Among those leading the movement are Quinton Peron, Napoleon Jinnies, Jonathan Romero, Justine Lindsay,, and Driss Dallahi
“These milestones are a reflection of the league’s commitment to affirming individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.
“The journey toward inclusivity in NFL cheerleading continues to evolve, with each cheerleader contributing to a more accepting sports culture,” noted LoveBScott, which provided a deeper look at Peron, Jinnies, Romero, Lindsay, and Dallahi.
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Scroll below for the site’s breakdown:
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1. Quinton Peron
Quinton Peron’s impact on cheerleading is undeniable. He made history in 2019 as one of the first male cheerleaders to perform at the Super Bowl, a year after he joined the squad. Peron’s journey to the NFL sidelines began when he and Napoleon Jinnie successfully auditioned for the Rams’ cheerleading team.
The classically trained dancer is also a reality star. He appeared in the thirty-fourth season of the CBS reality competition show “The Amazing Race.”
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2. Driss Dallahi
In 2019, Driss Dallahi became one of the first two male cheerleaders for the Patriots in over three decades. Dallahi, who specializes in aerials, joined the squad alongside Steven Sonntag.
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3. Jonathan Romero
The San Francisco 49ers introduced Jonathan Romero as their first male cheerleader in 2023. Romero, who is openly gay, expressed his surprise and gratitude upon making the team. “Never in a million years did I think this would happen,” he told Out Sports. “If you told me this two years ago, I would have said you’d be lying.”
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4. Justine Lindsay
Justine Lindsay made history as the first openly transgender cheerleader in the NFL when she joined the TopCats in 2022. Lindsay, a Charlotte native, announced her groundbreaking achievement on Instagram. “Cats out the bag, you are looking at the newest member of the Carolina Panthers TopCats Cheerleaders as the first transgender female,” she wrote. “This is a moment I will never forget, and I cannot wait to show you all what this girl has to bring.”
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5. Napoleon Jinnies
Napoleon Jinnies, a California native, began his dancing in the seventh grade. Despite facing bullying for his sexual orientation during his school years, he continued pursuing his passion and became a competitive dancer at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. “I was always the only boy on the dance team in junior high and high school,” Jinnies told Refinery29. “And during those years, I was bullied for being gay. The bullies would make comments in the hallway, and one time, someone put gum in my hair.”
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