Entrepreneur Jay Qatari, an outspoken supporter of the MAGA* movement, has left the board of EqualPride, the largest US media group publishing LGBTQ+ magazines The Advocate, Out, them, Pride.com, Out Traveler and Plus. Qatari also stepped down as strategic adviser for growth and innovation just one day after the media published an investigation into his political views and financial donations to conservative politicians. The publications’ editorial teams called the Trump supporter’s involvement in the company’s leadership “unacceptable”.
Reference. *MAGA (an abbreviation of the English phrase Make America Great Again — “Make America Great Again”) is a right-wing political and cultural movement in the United States that emerged around Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. The movement’s core ideas include adherence to Christian morality, conservative views on the institution of the family, and opposition to “political correctness” and cancel culture.
A wave of outrage swept through the media community following a report by journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas, who investigated the activities of recently appointed EqualPride senior executive Jay Katari. It emerged that Katari publicly supports Donald Trump and MAGA politics: he posted photos of himself wearing the signature red cap and mocked former President Joe Biden, while Katari and members of his family follow Trump’s relatives and key staffers on social media.
In addition, Katari mocked the use of gender pronouns on his Threads profile, listing his own as “dude/bro/guy/man/Jedi”.
The journalist also uncovered OpenSecrets records showing that on March 18, 2022, Katari donated $10,000 to former Republican Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. Reyes is known for his consistently anti-LGBTQ+ positions: he opposed same-sex marriage, workplace discrimination protections, and the recognition of transgender rights in schools. Reyes left office on January 6, 2025.
Editorial Response and Journalists’ Protest
On Monday, the editorial teams The Advocate, Out, them, Pride.com, Out Traveler and Plus published a joint statement on Instagram. The journalists said they had only learned from Ortega-Rojas’s article about Katari’s expanded authority and his past political statements, emphasizing that his views run counter to the publications’ mission.
The editorial teams called on management to provide an explanation and assured readers that Katari had no influence whatsoever over their reporting. The appointment of a MAGA supporter to the board sparked particular outrage given that Trump's policies targeting the transgender community and diversity initiatives (DEI) have led to cuts in advertising budgets and support for LGBTQ+ media across the country.
Speaking anonymously, a former EqualPride employee called Katari's appointment “a slap in the face to readers, community organizations, and employees.” He noted that the group's publications had spent years covering the Republicans' far-right agenda—from restricting transgender rights to cutting funding for HIV programs.
Management's response and Katari's resignation
EqualPride CEO Mark Berryhill, responding to the publication LGBTQ Nation explained that Katari joined the board through an investment group. Under the terms of the investment agreement, the lead investors were entitled to appoint two board members without a separate vote or the CEO's approval.
Berryhill noted that the company was introduced to Katari through a private equity firm that has funded EqualPride for several years. According to the CEO, Katari's responsibilities were limited to business development and identifying new revenue streams, and he was not allowed to take part in editorial work. As recently as August 31, Berryhill wrote in a letter to employees that Katari “genuinely loves what we do at EqualPride.” However, after the investigation was published, Berryhill canceled Katari's scheduled meetings with staff and entered into negotiations with him.
On Tuesday morning, Katari announced his resignation. In his statement, he said that he had only wanted to share his expertise free of charge to support the team and had not intended to cause division within the community. Information about him was removed from the EqualPride website. Editorial leaders thanked management for resolving the issue quickly and reaffirmed their commitment to independent journalism.
Context: layoffs and the advertising market crisis
The Katari scandal erupted several months after sweeping layoffs at EqualPride in February. Among those who lost their jobs was the editor-in-chief The Advocate Alex Cooper, Editor-in-Chief Pride.com Rachel Shatto, Senior Vice President of Editorial; Kayla Gagnet, Black Trans Community Editor; Marie-Adeline de la Ferrière; and several other journalists.
Berryhill attributed the layoffs to the cancellation of major advertising campaigns and broader economic challenges. Shortly after the layoffs, EqualPride acquired the publication from Condé Nast them, which also underwent staff cuts.
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