EqualPride has accepted the resignation of Jay Katari, a recently appointed board member whose reported support for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement sparked concern among staff and readers of the company’s LGBTQ+ publications. The episode has revived a bigger question: can a media group serving a marginalised community maintain trust without clear values-based oversight?

Essential takeaways

  • Board departure: Jay Katari resigned shortly after reports raised questions about his political activity and social media posts.
  • Editorial concern: Staff at The Advocate, Out, Them and other EqualPride brands sought reassurance that Katari had no influence over coverage.
  • Leadership response: CEO Mark Berryhill said Katari wasn’t involved in editorial decisions and now has authority over future board appointments.
  • Bigger issue: The controversy has put investor-appointed directors, corporate transparency and LGBTQ+ media trust under the spotlight.

A board appointment quickly became a credibility test

The controversy began with a fairly standard corporate announcement, at least on paper. Katari joined EqualPride’s board in late August as a strategic adviser focused on growth, commercial partnerships and new revenue ideas.

That remit reflected the company’s ambition to become more than a traditional publisher, with products, services and experiences aimed at LGBTQ+ people and allies. But the appointment took on a very different tone after reporting highlighted Katari’s apparent support for Trump and MAGA politics. LGBTQ Nation and The Advocate reported on the resulting backlash and his subsequent resignation. [2]

For a company behind well-known titles including The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, Plus, Pride.com and Them, the optics were especially sensitive. Readers don’t just buy stories from these brands; many see them as trusted institutions. That makes the people overseeing the business part of the credibility conversation, whether they appear in the byline or not.

Why staff and readers reacted so strongly

The reported social media activity included photographs featuring a MAGA hat, pro-Trump material and criticism of Joe Biden. Reports also pointed to an Instagram bio using a string of deliberately macho pronouns, which critics viewed as mocking transgender people. The details were reported by multiple outlets, including Them and The Randy Report. [5], [6]

That matters because the political backdrop isn’t abstract. Trump’s administration has pursued policies and rhetoric that LGBTQ+ advocates say threaten diversity initiatives, transgender visibility and protections. In that environment, a senior figure associated with pro-MAGA politics can create immediate doubts about whether a publication’s editorial mission is genuinely supported at board level.

The timing also intensified the reaction. EqualPride had reportedly laid off queer and trans journalists and editors across its publications, making any leadership appointment feel more consequential. As one can imagine, staff were unlikely to view a new growth-focused director as a neutral detail while editorial teams were already dealing with cuts.

Editorial teams demanded clarity

After the reports appeared, editorial staff sought answers about Katari’s role and whether he could affect coverage. Berryhill told employees that Katari would not influence editorial decisions, while the teams behind several EqualPride brands issued a joint statement reassuring readers that he had not shaped their reporting. The Advocate and Them both covered the dispute. [6], [7]

That distinction is important, but it doesn’t completely settle the matter. Editorial independence usually means more than keeping a board member away from individual stories. It also depends on whether journalists believe senior leadership understands, respects and protects the communities they cover.

For readers, the practical takeaway is simple: look for clear ownership disclosures, transparent corrections policies and visible separation between commercial leadership and editorial teams. Those details may sound dry, but they’re the scaffolding that helps a publication keep its voice when a crisis arrives.

What happened to the company’s governance?

Katari’s appointment reportedly came through an investment agreement allowing the lead investor group to select two directors without management approval. After his departure, Berryhill was given control over future board appointments, a change reported by several outlets including Urania Institute and News USA Today. [3], [4]

That arrangement raises familiar questions about private investment in mission-led media. Investors can bring useful expertise, contacts and capital, particularly as advertising becomes less reliable. But when a publication serves a community with a strong political and cultural identity, board composition can affect confidence far beyond the balance sheet.

There’s also an unanswered question around Katari’s relationship with the company, including whether he held an ownership stake. EqualPride may be able to clarify that through future disclosures, but the silence leaves readers and staff filling in the gaps themselves. That’s rarely a comfortable position for any media organisation.

The resignation may calm the immediate storm

Katari said his intention had been to volunteer his experience and support EqualPride’s work, adding that he didn’t want to cause disruption. He didn’t address the reported social media activity or political views directly, according to coverage from The Advocate and LGBTQ Nation. [2], [7]

His departure removes the most visible flashpoint, but it doesn’t erase the underlying concern. EqualPride still has to explain how board appointments are assessed, how investor rights fit alongside editorial values and how it plans to rebuild confidence after staff cuts.

For readers, this is a reminder that media trust is built in layers. A publication can produce strong journalism, but ownership, governance and leadership still shape how secure that work feels. In LGBTQ+ media, where audiences often turn to outlets for both information and solidarity, that human connection is hard to fake.

A board resignation may end the headline, but the governance questions are likely to last longer.

Source Reference Map

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