A leading LGBTQ publisher pushed out a board member after staff objected to his pro-Trump image and posts, raising fresh alarms about viewpoint discrimination and corporate speech policing.
Story Highlights
- Equalpride announced board member Jay Katari resigned after staff backlash over his reported MAGA support.
- Editors at The Advocate, Out, and Them pressed management after a photo showed Katari in a MAGA hat and posts backing President Trump.
- Katari said he stepped down to avoid disruption and support the community’s work from the sidelines.
- Equalpride’s CEO said investors gave him authority on board seats to protect brand independence.
Resignation Followed Staff Objections To Pro-Trump Image
Equalpride, the parent of The Advocate, Out, and Them, said board member Jay Katari resigned on September 15, 2026. Company reporting says staff objected after reports showed a photo of Katari wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat and social posts that backed President Trump. Editors argued his role clashed with the company’s mission during today’s political climate. Those outlets reported the resignation the same day the internal email went out to staff.
Named editorial staff at the publications pressed management after the MAGA-linked material circulated. Coverage credited reporter Kevin Ortega-Rojas with surfacing the image and past social-media support for Trump. Staff statements framed a governance risk and said the role felt “untenable” for their mission. Reports describe clear timing: outcry rose, leadership responded, and Katari exited the board. Several outlets published the same sequence within days, showing wide agreement on core facts.
Katari Statement And Leadership Actions
Equalpride shared Katari’s statement with employees. Katari said he decided to step down from the Board of Directors of Equalpride and did not intend to cause disruption. He said he respected the community and wanted the group to focus on its work. That message matched leadership’s account that the fallout had become a distraction. The company’s newsroom coverage quoted and summarized that message as the immediate reason for his exit.
Equalpride Chief Executive Officer Mark Berryhill informed staff that the lead investor group gave up unilateral power to appoint board members. Berryhill said he now holds that authority to protect brand independence. That change came as the organization faced questions about how governance aligns with editorial values. Company publications framed the shift as a step to keep trust with readers and workers during the dispute.
What The Reporting Establishes — And What It Does Not
Published pieces agree on key facts: a MAGA hat photo and pro-Trump posts triggered staff concern, editors went public, and Katari resigned. The reports also agree that Equalpride’s mission was cited as the reason his role felt incompatible. None of the gathered materials show a formal written policy that bans Trump supporters from serving on the board. The coverage does not include the original post archives or quantify the number of staff who backed the push.
The B in LGBTQ+ stands for bigots and bigotry. The bigots of the gay mafia forced a heterosexual board member out of his position at a gay media publication empire after an employee uproar over the heterosexual board member's expression of support for President Donald Trump on… pic.twitter.com/nZ2BQp70PS
— Saint James Hartline (@JamesHartline) September 24, 2026
This clash fits a larger pattern in mission-driven media. When a group’s public trust rests on advocacy, leaders face pressure to keep governance aligned with the brand’s agenda. Even without direct editorial control, a board seat can become symbolic and spark conflict. Industry guidance says political activity can become a conflict when it touches the group’s role. That context helps explain why a single photo and posts set off a chain of events that ended in a board exit.
Why It Matters To Readers Who Value Free Expression
This case shows how quickly a workplace can punish visible support for President Trump. A hat, a few posts, and staff pressure were enough to force out a board member at a major publisher. Supporters of free speech and fair treatment see a warning here. Corporate speech policing can silence people who hold mainstream conservative views. When mission claims trump pluralism, the result is often fewer voices and more fear inside American institutions.
Sources:
nypost.com, advocate.com, losangelesblade.com, metroweekly.com
