“Hours after Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly addressed his sexuality for the first time, a St Petersburg politician has called for him to be banned from Russia,” Kashmira Gander reports for The Independent.
“According to a translation by Buzzfeed, anti-LGBT campaigner Vitaly Milonov, a member of the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg, drew on stereotypes of homosexuals to suggest Tim Cook could bring ‘Aids and gonorrhea’ to Russia,” Gander reports. “He told the FlashNord website: ‘what could he [Cook] bring us? The Ebola virus, Aids, gonorrhea? They all have unseemly ties over there. Ban him for life.'”
Gander reports, “Milonov is well-known for his opposition to LGBT rights, and was the architect of a local law which became the basis for an internationally condemned country-wide ban on ‘gay propaganda.'”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me’ – October 30, 2014
Apple joins Gay Pride parade in Austin, Texas – September 21, 2014
Apple releases video highlighting employee participation in San Francisco’s LGBT Pride Parade – July 8, 2014
Tim Cook, Apple employees march in LGBT Pride Parade in San Francisco – June 30, 2014
Apple inviting employees to march in annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade – May 7, 2014
Apple donates $100,000 to fight same-sex marriage ban in California (Proposition 8) – October 24, 2008
Just one more reason why Russia is a morally and politically bankrupt country.
That depends on your definition of morals. It wasn’t long ago that being an admitted homosexual wasn’t considered moral, and most people in the world still think that way.
As for Tim Cook’s statement about it being a “gift from God”, I wonder why God hasn’t given us all that same gift. Could it be that the human race wouldn’t exist if that were so?
The human race, like other animals, has been pretty successful despite homosexuality. The sad things is some people choose one God or another as an imaginary friend and need to get their morals from some thousand year old books written in Hewbrew, rather than think for themselves.
Only the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in Greek and Aramaic.
All the elements of this planet (air, water, dirt etc) are over thousands of years old, should we disregard them as useless too?
What we called water back then would still be called water today, yet what is moral today might not have been regarded as such back then.
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic.
You have already disregarded all competing archaic morality systems from that time. Why not one more?
Back then the human race explained things like water, air and dirt the best way they could at the time, by making up a multitude of different myths and legends. Nowadays we explain them through science. That’s not to say the great religions of the world didn’t form the basis of our morality, but that doesn’t mean we should live by the same values as some Israelis did over two thousand years ago, nor use their old books to explain why we exist.
The gift was ‘difference’ Realist, and the perspective that brings. How would the gift have any value if we were all the same?
Tim is living in their minds, rent free.
LOL!
Good point!
Im sure there are plenty on here who support him, just see below, butters exist everywhere its just in Russia they have a bit more power.
That said the ‘gift from imaginary deity’ malarky is about as intelligent a comment as this Russians, so the God squad clearly don’t have a copyright on stupidity.
“God squad” is probably about as offensive as any other terminology used in this thread. It lumps thinking, ethical people who recognize that there is more in and of the universe than we can explain scientifically, sense with our senses, and understand with our minds, with unthinking, uncritical, fearful followers of power hungry charlatans.
I am a Christian in the very specific sense that I try to live out the words of Christ. If you put aside all of the tortured, self-serving rhetoric of the present day Pharisees who hide their own sins and condemn others based upon the technicalities of the “law”, and simply try to do what is loving and right, as Jesus commanded, you come to a very different reality than does Pat Robertson.
People who are in a lifelong, committed, loving relationship that does not include violence, promiscuity, coercion, or deceit deserve our support and our acceptance, no matter the gender relationships involved.
I’m glad there are people of faith with opinions like yours. Sadly religion is so often used to spread hate rather than love.
Lets not confuse morons with countries. Otherwise you can call USA or any other state a morally and politically bankrupt country.
What a schmuckski.
=:~)
Milonov should be ban for life for being stupid!
Ahhh Russia, you are the most homophobic nation on the planet. Their paradigm is still very 1950’s – 1960’s. I don’t think Tim would be too upset if he doesn’t get to visit in the future!
Most homophobic? Try being gay in a muslim country!
Exactly, most muslim countries are at war against women, gays, christians, children, personal rights, etc. etc. This is a very much overlooked travesty in the world.
Mdn deleted my comment for some unknown reason…..
Do a search for the top 12 homophobic countries. Article by Newsweek, Russia may be “bad” but they are NOWHERE near the top.
Russia-ban Tim Cook from entering country
Others in the top 12.. Death for being gay.
Huge difference.
If the response to Tim’s statement if crap like this from this knuckle dragger, Tim has already improved the human condition.
Tim has already improved the human condition in more than one way ! Regardless of what this schmuck says!
Apple CEO Tim a Cook came out as gay today. Three hours later, Samsung came out as being waaaaaay more gay.
No no no… not more gay… Gay years ago, Tim is just now getting around to being gay and copying Samsung.
Samsung: We didn’t say we were gay. We said we we’re happy. Looks the same, but totally different thing. Oooh, is that an Apple Watch?
Hey they invented ‘happiness’ by all accounts. Certainly makes me laugh at their antics.
A very funny comment!!
Of course strictly speaking the joke should be “Samsung were gay, but they weren’t very good at it, then Tim came along and showed them how.”
And this guys can still hang on to his position ?
I have a strong feeling his days are numbered !
Not in that country.
Remember in your country you can’t even stand as a politician in what is it 4 States if you don’t profess a belief in God and in reality almost anywhere if you want to succeed so lets not throw too many stones especially as there are plenty of weird religous based comments from some politicians there and elsewhere. Thankfully few if any get to real power but still pretty malevolent in many respects and a powerful undercurrent lobby that even the most sane of politicians pay lip service too.
Looking at the star rating most must have missunderstood my comment or it does not compute!
I meant his days are numbered in career sense !
He probably said this as he was using his iPhone to send an iMessage to Vlad about having a secret rendezvous
…while wearing black leather chaps.
Assess ones!
Assless!! dammit, why is their no edit button.
of all the problems in the world that politicians need to deal with from running out of resources, to debt, to overpopulation, to spread of plagues like Ebola etc, this dude is worried about gays….
Well of course he is! As he said, gay people spread Ebola!!
Sadly, there are Milonov types throughout good old America; some in Congress, as well as others elected or running for election in local governments as I speak.
Milonov, Jerkov, Wackov, whatever. People like him can all fuckov!
Tim Cook should just buy Russia.
heh.
You use that fairly often. What the hell does it mean?
I’m sure you could find some crazy American politician that would say the same thing if you tried.
Milonov is well-known for his opposition to LGBT rights, and was the architect of a local law which became the basis for an internationally condemned country-wide ban on ‘gay propaganda.
It’s typical for the most vehement homophobes to be… closeted. – – Just saying!
Which is both ironic and sad. Unfortunately, there are many more religious straight people who feel the same way, but just don’t need to beat their breast with their straightness.
There is a rumor going around that the top leadership of Russia, are closeted gay and bisexual. It’s a control mechanism, they can’t come out, and threats of an outing keep them under control. Of course any one of them can talk smack about professed gays because it feeds the template.
I am under the impression that Hitler also surrounded himself, his elite guard with gay men. Although gays were persecuted in German controlled territories, why is it that Hitler would do that? I think it’s for the very same reason, generate an isolated team where all the members have nowhere to go. They stick to the only person who will protect them.
Seems logical to me.
Democratically, having an openly gay society is a very safe thing for the people. It creates a class of advocates for equality, which is a fight that every democracy needs to make, every generation. It offers perspective. You don’t have to be gay, you just have to be reminded that there are different people who also have a voice.
Davewrite I can say the same for Tim Cook. Do we really need to know his sexual preference. Doesn’t he have more important things to tend to. How about Tim just put the same effort into fixing the problems with some of Apples products as he does promoting a sexual preference. To me and many others it is sickening to keep hearing about what type of person someone prefers to lay in bed with. Rather hear him tell us what he is doing with broken Apple software or hardware than his choice of sex partner.
Sexual orientation.
And there is nothing sickening about someone mentioning which.
actually I’ll rather Cook spend more time on Apple products as well.
I wish this gay thing was a non issue but because of the bizarre attitude of some around it (sometimes outright hatred of what should be a non issue as exemplified by the Russian guy ) as CEO he has to deal with it as it is a work place issue in the realm of discrimination, diversity , minority rights.
Apple has been asked (pressured?) by various groups to make a stand on these issues (Re: Rev Jackson on Diversity, ETC. ) and as CEO it is his job. (no I’m not necessarily a supporter of people like Jackson but I’m just pointing out the reality)
It is his job to make public Apple’s stand on this minority rights issues including gay rights. (Besides the PR stand there is also all kinds of legal workplace anti discrimination laws Apple has to abide by) Thus when he made speeches like recently in the South not making a public statement about HIS own orientation seems cowardly (imagine an African american making a stand for African american rights and then denying his own ‘blackness’ , “no, no my grandma on my father’s side was white”.. . ). To stop people from speculating, saying he is a coward and pretending ‘being straight’ he is just doing a ‘Tim Cook’ and dealing with issue (take action, said, done, ).
Also as a recognized public figure and leader as he said he thinks he can help some people , do we really want leaders who have no conscience ? Like he said in the one shareholder meeting : not everything is ROI. (and I am an apple investor). (Steve Jobs occasionally made public statements non directly related to apple projects as well including criticisms of teachers unions saying our children are too precious a resource, we should fire bad teachers etc. )
If you want leaders who just care about MONEY go follow Samsung….
I ‘m not gay myself but I actually got something out of Cook’s statements, ‘rhinoceros skin’ etc, I take strength from his courage that even if you are minority (and gays seem be a ‘despised minority’) you can make it big. This is important whether you are straight or gay , man or woman , black or white because probably you are struggling and a minority in SOMETHING (you have a stutter and you’ve been assigned to a sales team to make presentations etc. Skin of a rhino, “I can NAIL THIS ….!” ).
So what is the russian guys excuse to spend his time beating up on gays?
What about all those that feel afraid of their parents, teachers, bosses, friends… because they can’t bring home Mr. or Mrs. Right. I think that’s who Tim did this for. You can go fuck yourself and announce that that’s who you like to lay with. I won’t think any less of you.
Tim Cook isn’t going to Russia, anyway. I guess there are no gays in Russia because they must have kicked all them out by now.
Dunno. Anyone happen to catch that article in The Daily Beast about Berlusconi stopping by Putin’s place the other night for a late night get together?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/19/was-putin-s-midnight-visit-to-berlusconi-about-bunga-bunga.html
This statement will help make Tim a hero in Russia. There are just as many gays per population there as anywhere else, just that they’re (still) officially denied / suppressed. Expect a sales boom.
Homophobic guy this Milonov, by the way Milonov do you Russians already use toilets in Russia or you still need to go to your garden. With so much bullshit you should have them.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has grabbed hold of Russia with a vengeance since the rise of Putin and they are a prime example of the need to keep churches and the state separate. The rampant homophobia comes right out of the church- just like the US.
“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has a good will, who am I to judge?”
Pope Francis
Pope Francis is not the Russian Orthodox Church and has significant pushback from the arch conservative Bishops installed by the last 2 Catholic Bishops of Rome (Popes).
Francis seems like a good man on balance, but the Catholic Church is in decline in the developed world for a good set of reasons- almost all the growth is in the Third World. Even Ireland and Poland have finally trended away from active participation in the Roman Catholic faith courtesy of the serious Pedophilia problem among Catholic Priests.
Well in all reality CEO doesn’t need to advertise he is gay. I own a company not as big as apple but even if i did I’m not going to go around HEY IM STRAIGHT!!!
homosexuals always have to let everyone know they are gay. They have to hold rallies and parades. Hey if your gay or lesbian or straight whatever but keep it to yourself. Straight people don’t shout from parades hey we are straight or lets go have a press conference I’m straight.
I find it interesting when atheletes come out as gay they get huge press attention and its a big deal. But when someone comes out as a christian oh my thats horrible keep it to yourself we don’t want to know about it.
Or when someone does something they are not supposed to boy the press is ready to crucify that person (like they never did anything wrong).
Our society loves to praise the wrong things. Religious or not someone coming out for something they believe in as a religious belief should be as important as someone coming out as gay.
I bet if someone came out hey guess what I’m with the church of satan press would be all over it.
You go round saying HEY I’M STRAIGHT when you go out with a girl, hold her hand in the street, kiss her in a bar. You just don’t realise it because you’re straight.
The reason people like Tim Cook come out with statements such as he made is because it helps further acceptance in the world. The more people see that hey, the CEO of the largest company in the world is gay, a football player is gay, people just like me are gay etc… the more it appears the way it is and not that gays are some “other people”.
The fact is most homosexuals in the world don’t “always have to tell everyone they’re gay”, most live in fear of people finding out that they’re gay and then suffering the repercussions which include torture, imprisonment and execution.
Which is also why “they have to hold rallies”.
If you’re not part of any persecuted or discriminated against group, just get over it when those that are raise the issue. We really have nothing to complain about because we’re straight.
Religious belief is just an opinion, however closely held.
Being gay is a characteristic that, and this bit has to be emphasised, cannot be changed. Some messed up gay people try and change, and they always fail. Hence why all those “ex-Gay” types are slowly now admitting the mistakes they made by attempting to become straight. Meanwhile people successfully change their religions all the time.
That’s the difference.
What a fantastic angle for the discussion. I’ve never heard it put that way before. Thank you.
I actually think it’s a bit more complex than that. From what I have observed from people around me is that sexuality is more malleable than that, and unlike you seem to be implying, it not nearly as “locked in,” for lack of a better word, as you and many people imply or more often than not, state directly.
That’s not to say that it’s something that can be changed like a shirt of a pair of pants, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s set in stone either.
I notice some Russians must be very good friends with the nevrotic american puritans and bigots!
At least all these narrow minded people have more things in common then just their brainless sheep vision of what should or not should be…
Indeed there are links. Scott Lively, the “Christian” who actively lobbies for gay men in Uganda to face the death penalty, is a frequent visitor to Moscow, where he advises their *ahem* pro-famiy *ahem* movement.
It is my understanding that Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was homosexual, perhaps he should be banned in Russia also.
No more Sugar Plum Fairies for you, Comrade Milonov!
Being straight and Christian is an assumed given in the U.S., so there’s nothing positive or negative to be achieved by declaring it. Being successful and coming out, however, shows that it is possible to survive and thrive in this culture, to have a future where you can live and love without fear. Positive role models are a powerful antidote to suicides and reducing the acceptance of bullying by the majority, which is a good thing.
Those who don’t want to hear these declarations can simply ignore them. But, for those who live in fear of being discovered and wonder whether there will ever be a place for them in the world, such declarations are a beacon of hope.
Who wants to go to Russia anyway! Full of corruption, war-mongering bellends anyway! Just watch Russia self-isolate itself on a downward spiral and become a billy-no-mates!!
boy, sure glad there’s no corruption and war-mongering here.
Milanov is a nasty piece of work all in all. An outright fascist who hates all minorities, but hides his hatred behind religious language in order to try and escape criticism for it. He’s been responsible for all sorts of anti-LGBT laws, and frequently calls for various pro-gay Western figures to be banned/arrested etc.
Sooner or later he will cross the line and Putin will have to deal with him. For the moment though, he’s a convenient distraction from all the other government corruption going on.