Top executive of LGBT media company Equalpride Jay Katari resigns after criticism of his ties to conservative politicians
On September 15, 2026, Jay Katari stepped down from the board of directors of Equalpride, the parent company of several major American LGBTQ+ publications, including The Advocate, Out, and Them. His resignation followed a joint statement by the editors of these media outlets, who demanded clarification regarding his social media posts that allegedly showed support for the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement and mocked the use of pronouns.
In a joint statement posted on Instagram on September 14, the editors of The Advocate, Out, Them, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus stated that Katari’s views might be “antithetical to the mission of our brands,” but emphasized that his position had not influenced their editorial policy.
Equalpride CEO Mark Berryhill announced Katari’s departure in an email to employees on Tuesday, September 15. Shortly thereafter, Katari’s name and biography were removed from the company’s website. In a statement, Katari noted that his intention was “simply to volunteer my time and experience to support the incredible team and the important work they do for the LGBTQ+ community.”
The controversy erupted after an investigation by independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas, who reviewed Katari’s social media activity. The journalist found a photo of Katari wearing a MAGA hat. Although no direct attacks on LGBTQ+ people were found, Katari’s Instagram bio included a mock pronoun listing: “Pronouns-dude/bro/guy/man/Jedi”.
Previously, Katari held the title of “Strategic Advisor, Growth & Innovation”. On August 31, Mark Berryhill encouraged staff to meet with him so he could better understand their work, assuring them that Katari would not interfere with editorial policy. However, according to PinkNews , after employees expressed concerns, these meetings were halted.
Berryhill also explained that Katari had joined the board through an investor group that had the right to appoint two directors without management approval. Following the incident, the investors granted the CEO the authority to approve future board members. Equalpride has owned The Advocate, Out, Pride.com, and other outlets since 2022, and acquired Them in February 2026.
