Sunday’s Super Bowl saw two male cheerleaders dance at the sports event for the first time ever.
Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies – who are both openly gay – joined the formerly all-female LA Rams cheerleading squad last year.
There are other cheerleading teams in the NFL with male dancers, yet Peron and Jinnies are the first male cheerleaders to represent their team at the Super Bowl, one of the biggest sporting events in the US.
In an interview with the LA Times, Peron spoke about how he deals with criticism as an openly gay male cheerleader:
“Whatever has been out there, we’ve been able to take it, because we know who has our backs.
“Our family has our backs, our girls have our backs and the city of LA, they’ve got us.”
When Jinnies first made the team last March he took to Twitter to share his excitement and pride:
“Still can’t believe I’m one of the first males in history to be a pro NFL cheerleader! Everyone’s support and love has been insane. Thank you and GO RAMS!”
Still can’t belive I’m one of the first males in history to be a pro NFL cheerleader! Everyone’s support and love has been insane! 😭 thank you and GO RAMS! @RamsNFL @LARamsCheer #LARams pic.twitter.com/srpkYiVmEI
— Napoleon Jinnies (@NapoleonJinnies) March 27, 2018
Ahead of the football match, Peron tweeted:
“Walked into the stadium today for the first and last time. No matter the outcome of today’s game, today was one for the books.”
Walked into the Stadium today for the first and last time. No matter the outcome of today’s game, today was one for the books #history #SBLiii
— Quinton Peron (@Qperon) February 3, 2019
Last week Peron shared an Instagram post sharing his disbelief and excitement regarding the Super Bowl:
‘10 months ago, we had our first interview with Good Morning America sharing our excitement with the world about being the first 2 male cheerleaders in the NFL and now we are sharing that same excitement as we become the first 2 cheerleaders to ever cheer at the Super Bowl!
“This has been an INCREDIBLE journey and I have been blessed to work with the BEST AND MOST TALENTED TEAM IN THE NFL!”
Even though the Rams were defeated by the New England Patriots, many Twitter users were delighted to see two male cheerleaders at the Super Bowl.
Awesome to see Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders, Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron kick down the walls of the "Man Box" and show young men around the world that there are "REAL MEN" both inside AND outside of those white lines #SBLIII @acalltomen pic.twitter.com/6KqF77FnVZ
— Mark Herzlich (@MarkHerzlich) February 4, 2019
Sports analyst Mark Herzlich shared his support for Peron and Jinnies:
“Awesome to see Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron kick down the walls of the “Man Box” and show young men around the world that there are “REAL MEN” both inside and outside of those white lines.”
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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