Summary: Tim Scott, for the first time, publicly acknowledges that he is a gay man in a piece published in Business Week. The Apple CEO hopes that his declaration will help the marriage equality cause, as well as struggling individuals.
In a first person account on Business Week, Tim Cook opens up about living and working as a gay man in America. Cook, who serves as the CEO of Apple, tells the world for the first time in a statement that he is gay—and proud of it.
Cook states that he tries to maintain his privacy, which can be difficult since he works for a company that is watched so closely by the public. Cook states, “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.”
Cook continues his thoughts with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Cook explains that he often challenges himself by asking this very question, and concludes, “…my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today.”
Cook explains that he has always been open with many of his friends and families about his sexual orientation. Many of his coworkers at Apple know that he is gay, and it has not affected their working relationships in the slightest. Cook notes, “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.”
Cook then goes on to publicly acknowledge his sexuality for the first time, and adds, “…I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”
The CEO then explains that living as a gay man has given him a deeper understanding of what it is like to be a minority in today’s society. He states that this insight has made him more empathetic, which has enriched his life. He has followed his own path has been confident in himself as a person. Additionally, it has “given [him] the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.”
Cook laments that, although America has made a good deal of progress in the marriage equality movement, that there are still laws in force that allow employers to fire employees simply because of their sexual orientation. He adds that many landlords can evict tenants for being gay, and that gay partners can be barred from hospital rooms.
Cook decided to reveal his sexual orientation to the world in an attempt to help others. He explained, “…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 states that sexual orientation should not define a person, and neither should race or gender. Each person should be noticed and admired for their talents. He adds that Apple will continue to support marriage equality, too. The company recently spoke up in Arizona when the legislature passed a bill that was both discriminatory and targeted the gay community. Cook promises, “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.”
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