Equalpride board member steps down following report of MAGA support

Jay Katari has resigned from the board of equalpride, which owns The Advocate, Out, and Them.The news comes one day after queer and transgender editors and other editorial staff at the country’s leading LGBTQ+ newsroom demanded answers about Katari's expanded role in the company and his reported expressions of support for President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. Independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas first reported on Katari’s social media history, including an image of him wearing a red MAGA hat.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.”Related: Leading LGBTQ+ newsroom confronts parent company over board member’s MAGA support“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.The resignation followed The Advocate’s report Monday that staff from The Advocate, Out, Them, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus had pressed management for answers and publicly distanced their journalism from Katari.“Our editors became aware of concerning reports