Cook officially comes out: I am gay and I am proud

Today, Apple CEO Tim Cook published an article in Business Week announcing his coming out, saying in the article that he is proud to be gay.

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Cook said in the article:

I've never denied my sexuality, but I've never discussed it publicly either. Until now, let me be clear: I am proud to be gay, and it is the greatest gift God has given me.

Being gay has given me a deep understanding of what it means to be a minority, and it has provided me with a window into the challenges that minorities go through every day. It has made me more empathetic and enriched my life. It has given me the confidence to rise above adversity and bigotry at my own pace when things aren't going my way. It has also given me the "rhinoceros hide," which is important to the CEO of Apple.

The full text is as follows:

Throughout my career, I have strived to maintain a basic level of privacy. This is because I grew up in a humble environment and I don't want to draw attention to myself. But now that Apple is one of the most watched companies in the world, I have to focus on the product and build incredible products for customers.

At the same time, I believe in what Martin Luther King said, "The most persistent and pressing question in life is, What are you doing for others?" I ask myself this question often, and now I realize that my desire for privacy has interfered with more important things. So, here I am today.

Over the years, I have been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Many Apple employees know that I am gay, but they do not treat me any differently. I am lucky to work at Apple, a company that is passionate about creativity and innovation, and where everyone accepts people's differences. Not everyone is so lucky.

I've never denied my sexuality, but I've never discussed it publicly either. Until now, let me be clear: I am proud to be gay, and it is the greatest gift God has given me.

Being gay has given me a deep understanding of what it means to be a minority, and it has provided me with a window into the challenges that minorities go through every day. It has made me more empathetic and enriched my life. It has given me the confidence to rise above adversity and bigotry at my own pace when things aren't going my way. It has also given me the "rhinoceros hide," which is important to the CEO of Apple.

The world has changed dramatically since I was a kid. America has moved toward marriage equality, and public figures have bravely stood up to change people's mindsets and make our culture more tolerant. However, there are still many states where laws allow employers to fire employees because of their sexual orientation, landlords to evict tenants because they are gay, gays are not allowed to visit their patients at night, and even are not allowed to inherit their partners' estates. There are countless gays, especially children, who are sad because they are afraid of exposing their sexual orientation.

I don't consider myself an activist, but I realize that I benefit from the sacrifices of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay helps you feel less confused, less alone, or inspires people to fight for equality, then I think there is value in being private.

I have to admit that it is not easy to speak publicly about this. Privacy remains important to me, and I will continue to protect it. I consider Apple my life's work, and I will continue to work hard to make myself the best CEO. This is also what our employees, customers, shareholders and suppliers deserve. Society has gradually made people move away from judging individuals based on sexual orientation, race and gender. I am an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness enthusiast, a son from the South, a sports fan, and many other things. I hope people will respect my wishes and pay attention to the things I love, because they bring joy to my life and work.

I am very lucky to work at Apple because it advocates for human rights and equality. We supported the Workplace Equality Act in Congress, we supported marriage equality in California, and we opposed gay discrimination in Arizona. We will continue to defend our values, and I believe that this is what any Apple CEO would do. I will fight for the cause of human equality for the rest of my life.

When I arrive at my office each morning, I am greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy. I don't think that writing this puts me in a position to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, but when I look at the photos, I know that I am working for others. Together, we are building a path to justice, brick by brick. And this is one of my bricks.

Link to this article: http://www.ifanr.com/464645