Overview
- Jay Katari stepped down from equalpride’s board on Tuesday after independent reporting and staff pressure led management to remove his biography from the company site.
- Independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas published examples of Katari’s social media that showed him wearing MAGA-branded items and sharing pro‑Trump imagery, which sparked staff concern about credibility.
- Editors at The Advocate, Out, Them and other equalpride outlets publicly demanded answers and issued a joint statement distancing their journalism from Katari while urging management to clarify his role.
- CEO Mark Berryhill told employees Katari had been placed on the board through investor-appointed director rights and that the board has since given Berryhill authority to name future directors.
- The episode exposed gaps in investor vetting at private-equity–backed equalpride, raised staff fears tied to recent layoffs and acquisitions, and could prompt tighter governance and vetting for media owners.