No Gender November №11: Silly Pants

When Kare11 co-anchor Jana Shortal’s style made more news than the news she suited up to remind Minnesota how far we’ve come.

Note: This is part of the November 2018 “No Gender November” portrait series on my 6yo’s lunch notes. Follow along and learn non-binary with me!
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How one presents is only one dimension of their identity and Jana Shortal presents amazingly. Her reporting on Kare 11’s “Breaking the News” is devoid of the superficial gravitas. Since shedding the “lady uniform” on that program she’s become known for delivering subcutaneous news in nonbinary fashion. None of that’s been easy.

Too often a viewer will put how Jana presents in front of what she presents — she doesn’t let that go. A few years back, Jana was shamed by a newspaper columnist for her “skinny jeans” while presenting revelations in the Jacob Wetterling abduction. It was just silly for Minnesota’s most painful story to take a backseat to pants. Jana advocated for her story, the Wetterlings and herself. From her personal response, she managed to change hearts and minds with heartfelt compassionate words and ultimately had that column removed.

Jana is an inspiration to queer people in general, not just in news and entertainment. Her slow transition from standard on-screen bobbed cut lady reporter to the curly-fry headed slick woman on the scene was a transition we made with her. Her presentation is a high profile representation that identity is not one dimensional. She’s making all beautifully complex people feel comfortable in their skin. In her words “All I am is a daily reminder on their screens that they can be who they want to be.”