Equalpride board member Jay Katari resigns after reports of MAGA support

Jay Katari's departure reveals how investment terms let him onto the board without CEO approval at publications covering Trump's attacks on queer rights.

Told by Peter Ashford · 17 September 2026

Jay Katari resigned from the board of equalpride on Tuesday afternoon, one day after editors at The Advocate, Out and Them demanded answers about his MAGA hat and expanding role. CEO Mark Berryhill announced the departure in an email to employees. Katari's name and biography disappeared from the company website within hours.

Independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas had documented Katari's social media activity, including an image of him wearing a red MAGA hat. Ortega-Rojas identified no public statement in which Katari directly attacked LGBTQ+ people. The Advocate reported that he "appeared to make fun of the trans community" in his Instagram bio, which lists "Pronouns- dude/bro/guy/man/Jedi."

Editors at The Advocate, Out, Them, Pride.com, Out Traveler and Plus issued a joint statement Monday saying Katari's position had not influenced their reporting. The publications cover the Trump administration's campaign against LGBTQ+ rights. The statement called the reports "concerning" and said Katari "may have espoused beliefs that are antithetical to the mission of our brands."

Berryhill disclosed how Katari reached the board. Under equalpride's investment agreements, the lead investor group could appoint two directors without CEO or management approval. Katari joined through that process. The group has now given Berryhill authority to appoint future board members.

Katari was listed as Strategic Advisor, Growth & Innovation. In a 31 August email to employees, first reported by The Advocate, Berryhill said he had "full confidence in Jay" and encouraged staff to prioritise meetings with Katari. He assured staff the meetings were for Katari to understand their roles and that Katari would not play an editorial role. After staff noted Katari had already met with at least one person involved in editorial or social media, Berryhill halted the meetings.

Equalpride has owned The Advocate, Out and Pride.com since 2022 and acquired Them in February 2026. The company laid off journalists at The Advocate, Out and Pride.com shortly before the Them acquisition. Several existing Them staff were cut during the process.

Katari said in a statement he "never intended for my involvement to cause disruption within a community I hold dear and deeply respect." He did not address the social media activity. The editorial teams welcomed the resignation in a statement Tuesday: "Given this administration's attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, it was immediately clear to us that his involvement with the company was untenable."

The investor group has since given Berryhill the authority to appoint future board members.

Correction, 27 September 2026: an earlier headline said Katari left "not before the damage", which no source reported, and the story overstated what the investor group gave up. Mark Berryhill's staff email is now credited to The Advocate, which first reported it. A repeat version of this story has been removed.