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Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in an article on the BusinessWeek website today that he is gay and said he is proud to be gay. "Over the years, I have opened up about my sexuality to many people," Cook said. Many of my colleagues at Apple also know that I am gay, but they treat me no differently. ” "I have never denied my sexuality, but I have never publicly admitted it either, until now. Now let me make my position clear: I am proud to be gay, and I believe that being gay is the greatest gift God has given me. ” The following is a summary of the article: Throughout my career, I have struggled to maintain the most basic privacy. I came from a humble background and didn't want to attract attention. Apple has become one of the most talked about companies in the world, and I want to focus on our products and develop products and services that consumers will find incredible. At the same time, I am convinced of some of the words that Martin Luther King said. "The most enduring and pressing question in life is: What are you doing for other people?" he said. "I often challenge myself with this question and now realize that my desire to protect my personal privacy has prevented me from doing something more important. Over the years, I have opened up about my sexuality to many people. Many of my colleagues at Apple also know that I am gay, but they treat me no differently. ” Of course, I am fortunate to work at Apple. This company is passionate about creating and innovating, and is able to accept differences between people. Therefore, not all of them are so lucky. I have never denied my sexuality, but I have never publicly admitted it to this day. Now let me make my position clear: I am proud to be gay, and I believe that being gay is the greatest gift God has given me. Being gay made me deeply aware of what it really means to be a "minority" and provided a window to be challenged. This challenge is something that other "minorities" face every day. In addition, it gives me a "rhinoceros" face, which will be used sooner or later as the CEO of Apple. The world has changed dramatically compared to childhood. The United States is already about marriage equality, and public figures who have stood up have helped people change their minds and make our culture more inclusive. I don't consider myself an activist, but I realize that I have benefited greatly from the sacrifices of others. So if hearing that Apple's CEO is a gay person can soothe some other gay people, or bring comfort to anyone who is suffering from loneliness, or inspire someone to uphold their idea of equality, it's worth sacrificing a little personal privacy.
I admit, this is not an easy choice. Privacy is still very important to me, and I am willing to keep that little bit of privacy. Apple has become a part of my life, and I will continue to devote almost all of my time and everything I can to make sure I am a good CEO. This is what our employees, customers, developers, shareholders and supplier partners deserve. Society is progressing and no longer judges a person solely by sexual orientation, race or gender. I was an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a son in Alabama, and so on. I hope people will respect my choice, allow me to pursue what suits me, and work that brings me joy.
I am honored to lead this company (Apple) that has always advocated for human rights and equality. We have been a staunch supporter of all equality in the workplace before Congress, just as we have supported marriage equality in California. When Arizona passed an anti-gay bill, we also raised objections. We will continue to fight for our values, and I am sure that any CEO of this great company, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, will do so. In my lifetime, I will personally continue to advocate for equality in everything. Every morning when I entered the office, I saw picture frames of Martin Luther and Robert F. Kennedy. I am not writing this article to put myself in their camp. Just so that when I see their photos, I know what I should do to help others, even if it's a small thing. Let's pave the road to (gay) justice together, step by step. And that's the step I took.
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Posted on 11/8/2014 7:26:31 PM
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