By Mark Ariel
As the parent company behind iconic publications like The Advocate, Out, and Them, equalpride stands as the largest LGBTQ+ media network in the nation – which made learning about Jay Katari’s elevation to its leadership team feel like a complete betrayal.
Katari, a MAGA-supporting private equity investor whose social media reveals an active embrace of anti-LGBTQ+ political figures, was quietly named Strategic Advisor for “Growth and Innovation.” The moment I saw the news, my reaction was a mix of visceral disgust and profound frustration – feelings shared across our entire staff and community.
For decades, queer journalism has been far more than a business model; it is a sacred trust. Outlets like The Advocate and Out were built on the blood, sweat, and relentless courage of writers, editors, and activists who fought to give our community a voice when mainstream media refused to acknowledge our existence. To watch corporate leadership hand power to an investor aligned with movements hostile to our safety is an insult to that legacy.
As the Managing Editor of THE FIGHT, I know firsthand what it takes to protect the integrity of LGBTQ+ media. We operate on the front lines of a culture war where our rights and dignity are constantly under siege. You cannot wear a MAGA hat, celebrate politicians actively rolling back trans healthcare and civil rights, and then sit in a boardroom deciding the strategic future of queer journalism.
The defense offered by leadership—that Katari’s role is “strictly business” and won’t touch editorial strategy—is an insult to our intelligence. Business strategy is editorial strategy. The people who control the capital and growth models ultimately control the lifeblood of a publication. Forcing queer journalists to sit in revenue meetings with an advisor whose political ideology invalidates their humanity destroys staff morale and erodes reader trust.
Our readers rely on us to speak truth to power and remain an unshakeable sanctuary. The moment a publisher prioritizes private equity over the ethical foundation of LGBTQ+ advocacy, the entire mission collapses. Katari isn’t just a poor fit for equalpride – he is an insult to every journalist working in independent queer media today.
