CEO of Apple Tim Cook comes out saying “I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”
Writing for Buisnessweek, the CEO acknowledges that while he has never denied his sexuality, he has yet to publicly acknowledge it ether.
“So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” Cook writes.
“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. It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life.”
Cook acknowledges in his essay that the workplace can still be a tough place for many GLBT people. “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. Not everyone is so lucky.”
Earlier this week Cook spoke in favour of GLBT rights while being inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honour, saying that “Although there has been much progress, our state and our nation still have a long way to go before Dr. King’s dream is a reality.”
Noting in the Businessweek essay that the decision to come out “wasn’t an easy choice” Cook states that “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.”
“When I arrive in my office each morning, I’m greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy. I don’t pretend that writing this puts me in their league. All it does is allow me to look at those pictures and know that I’m doing my part, however small, to help others. We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick.”
Article | Levi Joule
