In an open letter published yesterday on Bloomberg, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook “outed” himself to the world, saying that he’s “proud to be gay,” and that it’s “among the greatest gifts God gave me.”
Prior to yesterday’s eye-opening missive, Cook hadn’t been open about his homosexuality, but had still been an advocate of LGBT rights since taking over as Apple’s chief executive. He had most recently talked about the slow progress of these rights, and broader human rights, in his home state of Alabama, but also had some close calls in past years regarding his then-private sexual orientation. In 2011, he was described by a publication as “the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley,” and was mentioned as being gay by a television anchor earlier in 2014. His open letter, however, confirmed everything in what had been a tough move on his part.
“For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation,” Cook wrote. “Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences.” Prior to that, Cook had also quoted civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King, a personal hero of his who felt that the question of “What are you doing for others?” was the most urgent one a person can ask in their lives.
Cook underscored that remaining private is still something he values very much, but coming out in the open as gay may possibly help other people come to terms with their sexual orientation. “Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day,” he said. “It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry.” He also quipped that being gay has “also given (him) the skin of a rhinoceros,” something that comes in handy for someone in charge of one of the world’s most recognizable companies.
In a later paragraph, Cook lamented the changes that had taken place since his youth, where times were much harder for minorities, particularly members of the LGBT community. “Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation,” he said, noting that it’s still common for landlords to evict homosexual tenants, or gay people getting prohibited from “visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies.”
In conclusion, Cook highlighted how lucky he is to be part of a company that’s long been in support of “human rights and equality for all,” including a recent stand in Arizona when the state had passed an anti-gay bill. “We’ll continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, would do the same,” he said. “And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up.”
Aca says
Maybe I am the only not understanding this but why would someone say “proud to be gay” in their 50s!?!?! Waited the whole life, and then when it all of a sudden IN to be modern and hip, all of the sudden that person becomes proud – but no one asks “why did you hide that for the last 30+ years”?!?!?!
sohambanker says
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Steve Jobs is legendary, I miss him…