Cook's coming out on homosexuality: Fireworks of different colors

Cook finally came out. After years of suspicion, speculation and acquiescence from the outside world, Cook unexpectedly wrote an article in Business Week yesterday, publicly announcing that he is a homosexual and proud of it. "Being a homosexual is the greatest gift God has given me."

Although his sexual orientation is no longer news, the CEO of the world's largest technology company has never publicly admitted it. He has always maintained a high degree of privacy in his personal life, just like his predecessor Steve Jobs. The 54-year-old Cook has never been married, rarely talks about his private life in public, and the media has never caught him and his lover appearing in the same shot.

However, even though he has always remained silent on personal issues, Cook has repeatedly expressed his support for the gay rights movement in public, and through his and Apple's power, he has pushed American gays to fight for equal legal rights, including the most important "equal marriage rights", that is, allowing gays to legally marry. Due to Apple's huge influence, his public coming out this time will undoubtedly play an important role in promoting the global gay rights movement.

Cook is not the only out gay person in the tech industry. Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, former Google executive and current White House chief technology officer Megan Smith, and Recode editor-in-chief Kara Swisher are all openly gay and married to their loved ones and raising children. (Note: Smith and Swisher are a same-sex couple)

San Francisco, where Silicon Valley is located, is the most tolerant and homosexual region in the United States, and has the highest homosexuality rate. It is even known as the "Rainbow Republic". The mainstream culture here is tolerance, equality and freedom, and accepting, affirming and supporting the gay community in their fight for legal rights is the most direct manifestation of this spirit. Google, Apple, Facebook and other technology companies have been working tirelessly to promote the gay rights movement for many years. (Note: The rainbow flag is the gay community's rights flag)

In other industries such as entertainment and fashion, there are also many heavyweight gay celebrities, and even gay people are leading the development of the industry. Mainstream people in these two fields regard supporting the rights of gay people and the legalization of marriage as a sign of promoting equality and progress in human society, and actively use their influence to urge American society and politics to pass legislation and other means to legalize same-sex marriage.

However, although the homosexual community has been respected and recognized by mainstream society in Western countries such as the United States and Europe, it still takes great courage to publicly admit one's different sexual orientation. Because people who fear and dislike homosexuality still exist, admitting homosexuality means presenting oneself to the judgment of society without reservation, accepting applause, encouragement, or ridicule and insults from others, especially for public figures.

Many celebrities expressed courage, relief and liberation after coming out. Actress Ellen Page, who announced her coming out in February this year, once said that she was tired of hiding and avoiding for many years and did not want to suffer mentally and continue to suffer in her heart, so she decided to take this step. Perhaps this is also an important reason why Cook has kept silent for many years, so this is not an easy choice.

Overall, homosexuals are still in a disadvantaged position in society, and they are subjected to various strange looks and discrimination pressures from traditional culture and conservative people. Because of this, most homosexuals choose to escape, cover up and deceive for many years, which leads to the tragic group of "gay wives" (homosexuals marry to pretend to be heterosexuals). If society gives them enough respect and tolerance, homosexuals will undoubtedly be able to face their lives and orientations more calmly and walk into the sunshine with their lovers.

During the Gay Pride Month in June every year, thousands of LBGT groups (including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) will take to the streets in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to publicly express their sexual orientation. In addition to homosexuals, a large number of heterosexuals will also join in to express their support. Facebook co-founder Zuckerberg personally takes employees to participate in the parade every year wearing colorful clothes.

I would like to mention again that homosexuality is not a physical or psychological disease, but a group that is opposite to the majority of heterosexuals. Homosexuals are just different sexual orientations. Whether it is determined by nature or chosen by nurture, their emotional lives are not fundamentally different from those of heterosexuals. Homosexuality does not mean promiscuity. A large number of homosexuals stick to their only lover; heterosexuals are not always loyal, and this point needs no further explanation.

Homosexuality is not a phenomenon unique to human society, but also exists in nature. From mammals, birds to fish, although the number is only a minority, homosexuality and bisexuality are also common. Homosexuality is not a problem that only exists in today's society, but a phenomenon that has existed in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad. From Alexander the Great of Macedonia to the British writer Oscar Wilde, from the King of Wei (Longyang) in ancient China to Emperor Ai of Han (Duanxiu), they are all famous homosexuals.

The homosexual community does not bring any so-called harm to society. Most homosexuals are born homosexual. Heterosexuals will still adhere to the traditional marriage between men and women, and this will not be disrupted by the legalization of homosexual marriage. In addition, relatively speaking, the homosexual community has a keener observation and creativity, which is most evident in the artist and designer community. The homosexual community has also made an indelible contribution to the development and progress of human society.

Mr. Leslie Cheung, whom I respect very much, once expressed his feelings in this way: "I just fell in love with someone, and this person happened to be of the same sex. I love this person, whether it is a man or a woman." I also believe that whether it is heterosexual or homosexual, as long as it is true love, it should be blessed and respected. The definition of true love should not be gender, but love itself. People are born free, and personal choices should be respected as long as they do not harm others.

I still remember clearly that in 2013, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the relevant law prohibiting same-sex marriage, gay people and activists in San Francisco gathered in the Castro District, where gay people live, to celebrate wildly. Many gay people hugged and cried with joy. They and their wives finally had legal marriage registration after five years of waiting. What I saw was not gender, but true love.

The greatness of a country does not lie in how brilliant its achievements are, but in its respect for the disadvantaged. The maturity of a society does not lie in how powerful it is, but in its tolerance of different choices. The world has never had only one voice, one color, and one orientation. Knowing how to accept the diversity and pluralism of different groups of people is a sign of a harmonious society.

Finally, I would like to borrow the lyrics of Mr. Leslie Cheung, "There is more than one way to be happy", "Everyone is the glory of the Creator", and "Fireworks of different colors". When the disadvantaged homosexuals muster up the courage to stand in the light, even heterosexuals, please give them some encouragement and support. Because everyone has their own weaknesses, everyone may become a disadvantaged group, and everyone needs the affirmation and help of others.

Postscript: This is the third article I have written about homosexuality in Silicon Valley this year, and this article is not strictly a technology column. But when Cook announced his coming out yesterday, I saw a lot of radical and naked homophobic and anti-gay comments in the news comments, and I felt that I should write something, even if it is not very literary, even if it will be insulted and criticized, but it is a kind of respect for my media work.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.