Apple CEO Tim Cook has published an essay on equality in Bloomberg Businessweek, in which he publicly acknowledges that he is gay in an effort to help others who may be struggling with issues of inequality or coming to terms with their own sexual orientation. Cook notes that while he has been open about his sexuality to many of his colleagues, and has never denied his sexuality, he has yet to acknowledge it publicly until now.
Cook states outright, “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” While Cook describes himself in the essay as a private person, he notes that he has come to the realization that what he can do to help others is more important than his own desire for privacy:
“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.”
Cook goes on to emphasize that Apple has been a long advocate of human rights and equality, and has taken stands in support of workplace equality, marriage equality, and against gender discrimination.
He writes that Apple will continue to fight for these values, and that he himself will “personally continue to advocate for equality for all people until my toes point up.”
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