Apple CEO Tim Cook on Thursday
said in an op-ed in Bloomberg Businessweek that “I’m proud to be
gay,” addressing rumors about his
sexual orientation.
said in an op-ed in Bloomberg Businessweek that “I’m proud to be
gay,” addressing rumors about his
sexual orientation.
“While I have never denied my
sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now,” he said in his commentary.
sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now,” he said in his commentary.
“So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay,
and I consider being gay among the
greatest gifts God has given me.”
and I consider being gay among the
greatest gifts God has given me.”
He noted that being gay has provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day.
“I don’t consider myself an activist,
but I realize how much I’ve benefited
from the sacrifice of others,” he wrote.
but I realize how much I’ve benefited
from the sacrifice of others,” he wrote.
“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.”
Apple chairman Art Levinson responded to Cook’s essay, calling him “courageous.
“[Cook's] decision to speak out will help advance the cause of equality and inclusion far beyond the business world. On behalf of the board and our entire company, we are incredibly proud to have Tim leading Apple,” Levinson said in a statement.
