Equalpride Board Member Resigns Following Report Of MAGA Support

Jay Katari (above) has resigned from the board of equalpride — which owns The Advocate, OUT, and Them — one day after queer editorial staff demanded answers about Katari’s expanded role in the company and his support for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.

The uproar came after independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas reported on Katari’s social media history, including images of him wearing a red MAGA hat.

Jay Katari resigned one day after queer and trans editors and editorial staff of The Advocate, Out, and Them publicly pressed management. https://t.co/UVXdlrDeVY

— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) September 15, 2026

Via The Advocate:

Equalpride CEO Mark Berryhill announced the departure in an email to employees Tuesday afternoon. Katari’s name and biography were immediately removed from equalpride’s website, where he was listed as a board member and a role as “Strategic Advisor, Growth & Innovation.”

“I have decided to step down from the Board of Directors of equalpride,” Katari said in a statement shared by Berryhill. “My intention was simply to volunteer my time and experience to support the incredible team and the important work they do for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Katari said he “never intended for my involvement to cause disruption within a community I hold dear and deeply respect,” and wished the company continued success. He did not address the social media activity related to MAGA politics behind the controversy.

Berryhill also disclosed how Katari reached the board. Under equalpride’s investment agreements, its 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, he wrote.

Ortega-Rojas identified no public statement in which Katari directly attacked LGBTQ+ people, but he appeared to make fun of the trans community in his Instagram bio, where he lists, “Pronouns- dude/bro/guy/man/Jedi.” p.s. those are all nouns.

Read more here.