Apple CEO Tim Cook Publicly Addresses His Sexual Orientation in an Essay, ‘I’m Proud to Be Gay’

In an essay for Businessweek, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged his sexual orientation, explaining that while he hadnt kept the matter secret, he had never addressed the issue in a public forum.

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.

The executive, who has largely made a point to keep his private life private, addressed the issue after calling on his home state of Alabama to do more for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights — a statement keeping with Apple’s history of fighting for workplace equality.

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.

image via Businessweek