The CEO of Apple, one of the most watched companies, came out publicly as gay in an essay about equality written to Bloomberg Businessweek.
Tim Cook says he has never denied his sexuality, but has kept his private life out of the public domain, until today. His choice wasn’t an easy one, he says, as privacy is highly important to him. However, after realizing how much benefit the sacrifices of others has brought him, he decided to speak up, hoping that he can bring “comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality”.
The world has changed so much since I was a kid. America is moving toward marriage equality, and the public figures who have bravely come out have helped change perceptions and made our culture more tolerant. Still, there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation.
I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy.
You may recall that earlier this year Apple employees took part on the 44th annual Pride parade, and in 2013, the company even issued a statement in which expressed its support of the gay marriage rulings.
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I’m a happily married straight guy who has several gay friends. I look forward to the day that this isn’t news.
i always thought he was just really nerdy, good on him
There’s actually a news blooper from a while back where a business expert listed him among openly gay CEOs of major companies. It sort of gave everyone an awkward pause as he had appeared to incorrectly identify Cook as gay, but now it seems that he knew what he was talking about all along.
Don’t care.
If Apple and Tim Cook want to being equality to the forefront, start treating Canadians equally as Americans and get Apple Pay working in Canada. Now that’s the kind of equality I care about. Ha!
Boom!
well in terms of sales then equality is where the most money is. I mean come on China will get apple pay before we will. Actually though, it might not be an Apple issues anyway.
That’s apples to oranges man.
Pretty sure the social consciousness of people is a little different to the all the bullshit that has to do with apple pay expanding.
That’s got NOTHING to do with Apple. Blame the communist CRTC for music services and such. And remember that our banking system is vastly superior to the US, and they take their time to properly evaluate and introduce something new… kind of like Apple does with allowing apps on the app store.
This is news? I’ve known this for years since it was in the news shortly after he was made CEO. The news for me today was that it wasn’t official LOL!
CEO of Apple Tim Cook annouces he’s gay… Awaiting Samsung press conference coping the announcement that they’re waayyyyy more gay.
Lol!!!
The Next Big Thing is here
Good one! Hahaha!
Good for Cook. No big deal. Apple will continue to make excellent products and continue to inspire the world. A persons personal preference makes absolutely no difference on what a company does as a whole.
The man is in charge one of the most profitable companies in the world. It’s great to see a gay man having such power!
Most of us already knew but that doesn’t lessen his courage, and will hopefully inspire lots of young people assuming their real identity in life… Congrats Tim!
I actually wished he didn’t come out. Gay, straight, tranny, doesn’t matter and isn’t anyone’s business.
It’s always seemed pretty obvious from his speech and mannerisms.