Apple CEO Tim Cook came out as gay in an article
penned for Bloomberg Businessweek on Wednesday.
"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," he wrote.
"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."
Cook's revelation comes just three years into his tenure as CEO of Apple. He was appointed upon the death of Apple's founder and his friend, Steve Jobs.
Since his appointment, questions of Cook's sexuality have come up on news shows and in thought pieces, but usually in passing, or in general examinations of women and minorities running blue chip companies.
"For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation," he continues in the piece. "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."
Cook remains humble in writing the piece, stating that he came out primarily to help others. He doesn't discount the perspective it's given him, however.
"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 timing of Cook's coming out comes on the heels of a successful launch season, wherein Apple has sold a record number of iPhones, announced the Apple Watch, updated the iPad and desktops, and posted blowout quarterly earnings. Above all, he said that he remains focused on the business.
"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?"'"
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