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