Jon Reyes Is Here, He’s Queer, and He’s Cheering for Every Dreamer on the Field

The rumble of the crowd. The glint of gold and red under stadium lights. Somewhere between the roaring fans and the bone-crunching tackles, Jon Reyes is making history—and he’s doing it with a pom-pom in hand, a wink, and a message for the haters: “I’m on the field. So bye, gurl!”

If you think you know what an NFL cheerleader looks like, Reyes is rewriting the script. As the only male cheerleader on the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush team this season, and one of only a handful of openly gay men performing on NFL sidelines, he’s not just breaking barriers—he’s pirouetting right past them .

Born in the Philippines, Reyes immigrated to the U.S. at age six. His love affair with dance began at Natomas Charter School’s Performing and Fine Arts Academy, but it wasn’t until after graduation—when he found a chosen family at Sacramento’s Sac Dance Lab—that he dared to dream of dancing professionally .

It was there, amid pliés and hip-hop jams, that Reyes realized he wasn’t just dancing for himself. “It has given me a sense of community. It’s given me purpose,” he told Solving Sacramento. “Anytime someone makes it out of the studio, it’s such a big accomplishment. It feels like a win for the studio.”

His path wasn’t a straight shot to the NFL. After seeing his friend Jonathan Romero become the first male cheerleader in 49ers history, Reyes was inspired—but when he auditioned two years ago and didn’t make the cut, self-doubt crept in. “You can eat it up, you can slay it on the dance floor, but if you find yourself in the deepest hole, the thing that matters is how you take yourself out of it,” Reyes reflected.

For Reyes, cheerleading is both physically and emotionally demanding. Auditions are grueling, with weeks of rehearsals, interviews, and routines that test every muscle and nerve. Yet, he says, the real challenge is battling old stereotypes about men—and especially gay men—in the sport .

“It almost feels normal to break gender norms,” Reyes said. “I’m the only male cheerleader on this team, but I accredit it to other people like my directors on the team and my teammates.”

And while the NFL has made headlines in recent years for introducing male cheerleaders—Napoleon Jinnies for the Rams in 2019, Romero for the 49ers in 2023, and now Reyes—online trolls and “traditionalists” still try to make noise. Earlier this year, when the Minnesota Vikings introduced male cheerleaders, right-wing pundits fumed on social media . Reyes’ answer? “Guess what? I’m on the field. So bye, gurl!”

What sets Reyes apart isn’t just his dance skills—it’s his unapologetic authenticity. He’s quick to credit his team’s culture for making him feel welcome. “I haven’t had any weird experiences, and I think whenever I see a coach or I’m in the same room as them, there is an acknowledgement,” Reyes told Outsports. “There’s always a ‘thank you for having us, thank you for having me,’ all of that kind of stuff, and it’s very professional.”

But Reyes isn’t just cheering for himself. He’s keenly aware that his presence on the field is powerful, especially for those who don’t see themselves represented in mainstream sports. “We are there for reasons outside of us. For the people who brought us there like our friends and family, for the fans who love the sport, for the little boys who look up to us, literally for anyone who wants to see us on that field.”

For queer youth who’ve been told their dreams are out of bounds, Reyes’ story is a rallying cry. He’s proof that you can bring your whole self onto the field, that there’s a place for queer joy—and queer excellence—on the biggest stages.

Cheerleading, especially in the NFL, is often about relentless optimism, the kind that keeps spirits high even when the scoreboard isn’t in your favor. Reyes brings that same ethos to being out in sports. “You have to be ready as a dancer, but also to present yourself as a well-rounded individual,” he said of the audition process .

Reyes’ confidence isn’t naïve. He knows the work is never done, that pushing boundaries means some people will always push back. But he isn’t backing down. Next season, he’s already planning to audition again—and he hopes his journey will open the door wider for all who come after him.

“I guess my issue is that male cheerleaders in the NFL are often perceived as selfish,” he told Solving Sacramento. “But being almost done with my season, we are there for reasons outside of us… for anyone who wants to see us on that field.”

In a year when anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is still making headlines, Jon Reyes’ story feels like a much-needed dose of hope. It’s a reminder that queer visibility isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being celebrated, supported, and given the space to thrive .

For every little boy in the stands, every nonbinary dancer in the studio, and every queer sports fan who’s ever wondered if they belong, Reyes is waving his pom-poms and saying: You do. And the field is that much brighter for it.