Apple chief Tim Cook: 'I'm proud to be gay'

[Monoriu]

I hope the day will come when these aren't necessary anymore.  I think we are getting close to the who cares territory. 

[garbon]

I hope the day will come when these aren't necessary anymore.  I think we are getting close to the who cares territory. 

I don't think that's true for most of the world.

[Martinus]

If you think someone is wrong to be ashamed you must think he's wrong to be proud too, right?

I think saying you are proud to be gay is about communicating that you are comfortable with who you are and communicating that in the public sphere. So I'd say no to your question.

That equate "pride" with "comfortable with". Wouldn't be my definition but perhaps just semantics. I guess I'm "proud" to be 5'11", "proud" I'm a bit clumsy and "proud" I have shit eyesight. Well' I'm certainly not bothered about any of those things.

Being 5'11'' is a neutral trait that is not associated with years of social stigma and legal discrimination; being clumsy and having shit eyesight are deficiencies. I don't think any of these compare to being gay. Do you?

[garbon]

If you think someone is wrong to be ashamed you must think he's wrong to be proud too, right?

I think saying you are proud to be gay is about communicating that you are comfortable with who you are and communicating that in the public sphere. So I'd say no to your question.

That equate "pride" with "comfortable with". Wouldn't be my definition but perhaps just semantics. I guess I'm "proud" to be 5'11", "proud" I'm a bit clumsy and "proud" I have shit eyesight. Well' I'm certainly not bothered about any of those things.

Well maybe you should do a little research on black pride (and then what emulated that gay pride). There's a specific historical reason as to why those pride movements came about.

[alfred russel]

That equate "pride" with "comfortable with". Wouldn't be my definition but perhaps just semantics. I guess I'm "proud" to be 5'11", "proud" I'm a bit clumsy and "proud" I have shit eyesight. Well' I'm certainly not bothered about any of those things.

I think it goes a bit beyond that. Are you proud of your community? I think you can take pride in being a part of a group that cares for one another, works hard, has overcome obstacles, etc.

[alfred russel]

Being 5'11'' is a neutral trait that is not associated with years of social stigma and legal discrimination; being clumsy and having shit eyesight are deficiencies. I don't think any of these compare to being gay. Do you?

Beyond that, he can legitimately take pride in being who he is and still becoming the CEO of a major company.

[Martinus]

Best comment so far:

What will Samsung do?
Copy the idea.

[derspiess]

Best comment so far:

What will Samsung do?
Copy the idea.

Wow.  Seriously?  That takes some balls to claim Samsung copies Apple's ideas.

[Ed Anger]

Great, android-Apple fight brewing.

[Viking]

Is gheyness something he achieved? How can he be proud of it?

If you can be ashamed, you can be proud too, right?

If you think someone is wrong to be ashamed you must think he's wrong to be proud too, right?

Precisely.

[Legbiter]

Great, android-Apple fight brewing.

Samsung's CEO will counter by declaring himself a pansexual genderqueer otherkin (carrot). 

[Martinus]

Here is the entire entry from Tim Cook, which I think quite nicely addresses some of the points raised by people in this thread:

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.

[Zanza]

Best comment so far:

What will Samsung do?
Copy the idea.

Samsung's CEO came out of the closet 12-18 months ago?

[Barrister]

Great, android-Apple fight brewing.

Samsung's CEO will counter by declaring himself a pansexual genderqueer otherkin (carrot). 

I can see it.

[Ed Anger]

That suit.