The San Francisco 49ers‘ cheer squad, Gold Rush, has showcased a significant stride towards inclusivity with Jonathan Romero. He is the first gay male member in its ranks. Well, Romero’s actual aim was originally to gain audition experience elsewhere. However, he found his skills unexpectedly leading him to a groundbreaking role with the 49ers.

His inclusion not only defies traditional gender barriers but also infuses the squad with a dynamic flair. Now as the Kansas City Chiefs get ready to face the 49ers in the Super Bowl, Romero is also all set for cheering for his team. But how did Romero end up here?

Jonathan Romero’s dance from studio to stadium

Jonathan Romero’s journey to being a part of the Gold Rush squad has been a roller coaster ride for him. Initially, he was involved in mentoring a high school cheer and dance team. There, Romero found a deeper connection to his passion, dancing. Furthermore, his earlier engagement at the Sac Dance Lab in Sacramento had already set the foundation.

Romero had already allowed him to express his identity as a gay man through dance. Reflecting on his audacious move to audition for the then all-female Gold Rush team, Romero told Outsports a surprising anecdote. He said, “When I made the decision to send in an audition video, I explained to every person I told that it was a complete long shot.” He viewed the audition as a chance to gain experience and never in his dreams he anticipated the outcome.

Romero expressed his astonishment and said, “Never in a million years did I think this would happen. If you told me this two years ago, I would have said you’d be lying.” This unexpected twist in his path definitely shows his journey filled with courage and groundbreaking achievements. Not to mention what happened next and this move’s result was even more impressive.

Cheering for change

Jonathan Romero was immediately accepted into the Gold Rush squad post-audition. It was definitely a huge shift from a once exclusively female domain. This change mirrors the trailblazing efforts of male cheerleaders like Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies.

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Romero added, “One thing I wish people knew is the extent to which each individual who partakes in cheer is absolutely an athlete. The time, the passion, the competition, cheer is identifiable as a sport.” Additionally, cheerleading has embraced gender diversity. However, Romero notes a disparity in the broader NFL context.

He said that there aren’t many openly gay figures in the league. However, player Carl Nassib and coach Kevin Maxen definitely remain exceptions. What is your take on this? Let us know below.

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