gay. Tim, who became CEO when he succeeded Steve Jobs on August 24th
2011, has never discussed his sexual preference in public before today
but said that many of his colleagues knew he was gay.
Tim, who is worth an estimated $500million, came out as gay in an
editorial for Bloomberg Business Week, stating: "Let me be clear: I'm
proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God
has given me". See what he wrote after the cut...
Tim Cook writes for Business Week
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.
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