Apple ceo is gay
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Cook's career began at IBM, where he spent 12 years in various operational roles. Cook, who publicly came out as gay in 2014, has since been an unwavering advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, using his platform to champion inclusion and equality both within and beyond the tech industry.
Born on November 1, 1960, in Robertsdale, Alabama, Tim Cook grew up in a small town in the American South.
It's a characteristic that I hope they view, like I do, that it's God's greatest gift."
Cook added that being gay gave him a lens into how other people think and feel. "We feel privacy is a basic human right," the Apple CEO adds.
Pride Month Profile: Tim Cook
Early Life and Career
As Pride Month illuminates the stories of influential figures within the LGBTQ+ community, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, stands out as a beacon of authenticity and leadership.
His sexuality had been quietly speculated about in several reports, but Cook remained silent and preferred to keep his life private until he started getting notes from kids. Some said [they] had suicidal thoughts.
But what has remained a topic of conversation is what took Cook so long?
The 62-year-old CEO of Apple, who was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1960 and grew up in Robertsdale where his father worked in a shipyard, had a different childhood growing up which in return made him feel that he was fundamentally different.
Growing up in Robertsdale where there was no internet and also very slim hope of finding people who were similar to you, set the template for the way Cook still sees himself.
"When I was growing up there was no internet, and therefore you didn't find a lot of people like you around," Cook revealed in an in-depth interview to GQ.
The Apple CEOwho prefers to stay off the radar and not indulge in revealing many details about him or his personal life, spoke unfiltered to the world when he came out in the 2014 opinion article in Bloomberg published on October 31.
"While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now.
Part of what they need to see is that life doesn't end.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said he decided to come out as gay after reading letters from kids struggling with their identity
Tim Cook says he was motivated to come out as gay after receiving letters from children struggling with their sexual orientation.
The usually private Apple CEO publicly came out in 2014, revealing his sexual orientation in an open letter published in Bloomberg Businessweek.
And I felt a responsibility to try to do something.
The company provides comprehensive benefits for LGBTQ+ employees and has supported various initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion.
Cook has also been vocal in the fight against discriminatory legislation. During Pride Month, Cook’s story serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of authenticity, courage, and advocacy.
Cook’s influence has not only transformed Apple but has also helped to redefine the role of CEOs in championing social change.
Under his leadership, Apple has consistently scored high on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, reflecting its commitment to workplace equality. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me," the businessman had written.
The decision to talk about his sexuality was voluntarily because Cook thought that not doing so would cause actual harm.
"I'm not saying that I understand the trials and tribulations of every minority group, because I don't," he said. And to the degree that it helps give you a lens on how other people may feel, I think that's a gift in and of itself."
Cook's comments come at a challenging time for Apple and Cook, with the Apple CEO accused of pandering to Chinese state demands.
Earlier this month, Apple removed an app from its App Store that let Hong Kong residents track police movements, with the app having received heavy criticism in Chinese state media the previous day.
Cook and Apple drew heavy criticism from US lawmakers including Sen.
Marco Rubio and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In a memo sent to Apple employees first obtained by Bloomberg, Cook defended his decision on the grounds that the app was being used to "maliciously target individual officers for violence."
More recently, Cook accepted a chairman role at a prestigious Chinese university whose board members also include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Why Tim Cook, a private man, voluntarily came out about his sexuality, says people used word ‘normal’ to describe ‘straight’
In Cook's tenure with the Cupertino-based tech giant, the company has adopted a set of public values and practices that are particularly rigorous around privacy and security. His legacy is one of courage, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to equality, embodying the spirit of Pride in every sense.
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"I was getting notes from kids who had read on the internet somewhere that I was gay," Cook says.
Initially tasked with streamlining the company's manufacturing and supply chain operations, Cook's efficiency and strategic vision were instrumental in revitalizing Apple, paving the way for its future successes.
Rise to Leadership
When Steve Jobs resigned as CEO in 2011 due to health issues, Tim Cook was appointed as his successor.