Tim Cook: "I'm Proud to be Gay"

[RunInRed 16,360]

Tim Cook Speaks Up

By Tim Cook

October 30, 2014

Throughout my professional life, I’ve tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble roots, and I don’t seek to draw attention to myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them.

At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” I often challenge myself with that question, and I’ve come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today.

For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation. 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. Not everyone is so lucky.

While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.

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. 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. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.

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.

I’ll admit that this wasn’t an easy choice. Privacy remains important to me, and I’d like to hold on to a small amount of it. I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be. That’s what our employees deserve—and our customers, developers, shareholders, and supplier partners deserve it, too. Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender. I’m an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness nut, a son of the South, a sports fanatic, and many other things. I hope that people will respect my desire to focus on the things I’m best suited for and the work that brings me joy.

The company I am so fortunate to lead has long advocated for human rights and equality for all. We’ve taken a strong stand in support of a workplace equality bill before Congress, just as we stood for marriage equality in our home state of California. And we spoke up in Arizona when that state’s legislature passed a discriminatory bill targeting the gay community. 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. And I will personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up.

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.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay#r=hp-lst

[Mikey 16,550]

If it suits Tim Cook, fine for Tim Cook, he gets no grief from me. I'm proud to be straight and I hope that doesn't offend anybody either.

[cooltigger21 0]

and this is supposed to be news? I mean we've known or suspected this for some time and why he felt the need to say that I don't know but ok.

[AUisAll 2]

I could care less one way or the other. I don't but Apple products. It will be interesting to see if this affects Apple at all because some do care.

[TitanTiger 20,471]

It's really immaterial to me. I've sort of known this for a while. I agree with him on about 90% of what he hopes to accomplish by coming out publicly. Probably the only disagreements we'd have would be on same sex marriage and how that impacts citizens who don't agree on a moral/religious basis.

I buy Apple products.

[alexava 6,973]

I buy Apple products and eat at chick fi la. The sexual orientation of the CEOs or his stance on marriage equality does not affect my life enough to impose limits on products I might enjoy. I feel sad for those that do that to themselves.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

[cooltigger21 0]

I could care less one way or the other. I don't but Apple products. It will be interesting to see if this affects Apple at all because some do care.

I doubt it. This isn't earth shattering news and in this day and age it's not anything people worry about.

[icanthearyou 4,462]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

That's what really matters. :-\

[TitanTiger 20,471]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

That's what really matters. :-\

Don't bust his balls over it. He's just saying, it's business and the CEO being gay or not doesn't phase him on such matters.

[AUtiger98 24]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

That's what really matters. :-\

Don't bust his balls over it. He's just saying, it's business and the CEO being gay or not doesn't phase him on such matters.

+1

[Grumps 3,693]

"I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

Does anyone else find this part of his statement interesting?

[TitanTiger 20,471]

"I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

Does anyone else find this part of his statement interesting?

I get in the sense that many gay people feel that it gives them a certain perspective and empathy for people who are different - who don't fit it, the marginalized - that they perhaps would not have if they had been like most everyone else. I've even heard gay Christians who believe in traditional biblical teaching on sexual activity and marriage and are committed to celibacy as a result say the same kinds of things.

[Weegle777 78]

Who cares? I'm straight. Nobody cares about that. It's a non-issue.

[icanthearyou 4,462]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

That's what really matters. :-\

Don't bust his balls over it. He's just saying, it's business and the CEO being gay or not doesn't phase him on such matters.

I understand what he is saying. The purpose wasn't to "bust his balls". Merely suggesting that money often makes a difference, for all of us.

[DKW 86 7,411]

We have about a dozen or so Gay Christians at our church.

Everybody has some issues. This is not a problem to me at all.

Doubt we would ever marry a couple either.

[autigeremt 6,569]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

That's what really matters. :-\

It does if your retirement portfolio has Apple in it.

[autigeremt 6,569]

The LGBT crowd wants all of you to know that this is a BIG DEAL.

I'm cool with it if he's cool with it. Just don't expect me to understand or agree with it from a very close and personal standpoint.

[homersapien 11,353]

If it suits Tim Cook, fine for Tim Cook, he gets no grief from me. I'm proud to be straight and I hope that doesn't offend anybody either.

It doesn't. (obviously :-\ )

[homersapien 11,353]

and this is supposed to be news? I mean we've known or suspected this for some time and why he felt the need to say that I don't know but ok.

It's news to me!

[Mikey 16,550]

If it suits Tim Cook, fine for Tim Cook, he gets no grief from me. I'm proud to be straight and I hope that doesn't offend anybody either.

It doesn't. (obviously :-\ )

Never went into a gay bar by accident did you?

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

LMAO. Good one Mikey.

[homersapien 11,353]

Tim Cook is a Auburn grad, very nice guy and a good CEO. He is entitled to have whatever sexual preference he wants. I don't agree with it but that's OK. I buy Apple products and have made a ton of money in Apple stock.

You "don't agree with" someone's sexuality?

[cptau 169]

The biggest not really a secret for some time secret. It's his personal life choice, so be it.

I do find it interesting that he chose now to make the official announcement about his personal life. Right after Apple has made record profits and stock price increases based on iPhone 6 and Apple Pay. He's been living under the "you're not Steve jobs" cloud since he took over at Apple. He may feel more secure about lots of things now.

[AURaptor 1,121]

If it suits Tim Cook, fine for Tim Cook, he gets no grief from me. I'm proud to be straight and I hope that doesn't offend anybody either.

I don't understand the concept of being PROUD for things which you had no part in doing. Being gay, straight, black, white, what ever.