The following is a statement from The Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBT rights organization, verbatim:
Today in an op-ed in Bloomberg Businessweek, Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly took a courageous step forward. In doing so, he committed himself to using the influence that comes with heading of one of the world’s largest corporations to fight for the rights and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people across America. Cook and Apple were already leaders in advocating for LGBT equality and have for years promoted inclusive workplaces practices within the corporation, consistently scoring a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. They have also lobbied for legal solutions to discrimination like marriage equality and workplace non-discrimination laws at the federal level.
In response to today’s news, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:
“Tim Cook’s announcement today will save countless lives. He has always been a role model, but today millions across the globe will draw inspiration from a different aspect of his life. Tim Cook is proof that LGBT young people can dream as big as their minds will allow them to, whether they want to be doctors, a U.S. Senator, or even CEO of the world’s biggest brand. Apple has consistently fought for the LGBT community and we’re incredibly grateful that today’s announcement will bring even more to their work for equality.”
Source: The Human Rights Campaign
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
And yet we have a black President and things are as bleak as ever for black folk. Go figure?
The thing about having a black President is that once we arrived at the point where we could get a black President, we were 90% “there”. The remaining 10% will be the tough part.
Meanwhile in terms of LGBT, we have a very long way to go, but it’s happening relatively very fast.
Tim Cook presents himself as the CEO of the world’s largest corporation which produces products and services that billions of people admire.
While I think HRC’s official statement as a direct literal interpretation may be a bit overstating things, I do think Tim Cook will influence acceptance across the board and indirectly have an impact.
Do you think we could elect a gay President? Would that mean something?
I think it certainly would. Although, for decades, I had thought that the majority of voting America (the large swaths between Philadelphia and the Rockies) would rater vote for a gay man than elect a black president, it seems that the dire economic situation of 2008 meant that the country was willing to vote even for a black man rather than to re-elect policies that seemed to have brought them to that financial predicament.
While I believe it is possible for America to vote for a gay president, I am still skeptical that they would vote for a woman president.
In the end, I’m sure that electing a gay President would have a very significant meaning for American gays, just as much as it meant for many black Americans (present company notwithstanding). Those who were already successful didn’t need Barack Obama to prove them that they can be anything they want to be, but there are still many others who find it frustrating that at various points in their life, they will encounter some bigot who will try to put some artificial obstacles in their path. In the LGBT community, these bigots tend to create deep emotional scars for a sizable portion of the community, and we often hear about the consequences (jumping off bridges into Hudson, hanging themselves, etc). While the statement of the article may sound grandiose, it certainly isn’t that far off base.
Clinton era policies brought us the financial collapse. Forcing lending to those whom lending should not have been extended. Bush & Co. didn’t fix the error for fear of being tagged “racists.”
Exactly so, but those on the left are allergic to the truth and keep putting forth the lie that Bush policies created the collapse of 2008 and somehow Obama and the Dems who have done zero to undo the mistakes made under Clinton, are somehow going to “fix” the problem that they created.
I expect more of the same in the future, as lending policies are still polluted by bad laws.
We have been over this several times and your erroneous interpretation of that non-discrimination directive has been thoroughly refuted. Go back and search. Read the actual policy. I did.
Lender greed and lax oversight is what led to the crisis. There was incredible international demand for U.S. mortgage-backed securities. That led to a decrease in down payment percentages to zero and interest-only payments for several years, all to squeeze people into mortgages that they could not afford. Lenders also pushed favorable appraisals and failed to verify income to support mortgages.
Your simplistic assessment is embarrassing. Use the Force.
It is also worth pointing out that even if “Clinton era policies” were to blame for putting the U.S. on the path to the housing crisis, the Bush administration had quite a few years to correct the situation, including four years of Congressional supermajority.
And then twimoon jumps in with more drivel. “Allergi to the truth” my ass.
“the Bush administration had quite a few years to correct the situation…”
it would be refreshing if you applied that same reasoning to the Obola Messiah administration after six years. Oh, silly me, it’s Melvin…nevermind.
‘Forcing lending to those whom lending should not have been extended’?
That’s just a damnable lie. The truth is that the default rates were identical among the rich,middle class and poor. It was entirely the pre-planned variable rate one-month 300% rate hike that caused a massive default tsunami. After 6 years of covering for Bush’s anemic (and lower than the depression) growth rate by constantly lowering the prime interest rate and promising everyone practically free money, it was inevitable that the bill would come due before he left office.
in 2005, we had more cars sitting on car lots than any time since they began tracking it. They launched a massive ‘no money down, no payments until 2007!’ campaign to trick people into paper sales that they could pretend meant the economy wasn’t in free fall already. Again, the bill came due when in 2009, nobody could make their payments on those loans.
Could we elect a gay president? I think we already have. Could we elect another one? Possibly… But it wouldn’t be easy, given the religious bent of many of our citizens these days.
Our beloved First Lady, Assquatch, was asking Obola himself, “Does this dress make my dick look too big?” just the other day.
In a language I just made up, your name is an anagram of bigotfink. Also twat.
probably would be more productive if you learned English first, also, the definition of an anagram….but, but…have a nice day!
I might have known someone would try to turn this into an anti-Obama rant. For the record, I was referring to James Buchanan.
Get the violin
sniff.
well, maybe the White House would get redecorated. That’s something.
It would mean that we are becoming a more tolerant nation and respectful of others. Outside of that, it should be meaningless. I want to appreciate Tim Cook as a CEO of the most successful technology company in the world, a leader, and as a Southern Gentleman.
I don’t know why anyone 1-starred your question; it’s perfectly valid.
I don’t think we could elect a gay President anytime soon. Things are changing so rapidly though… 10 years from now? Maybe. A generation from now? Definitely.
Yes, it would definitely mean something as other countries that are far behind (as in where they execute gays) would see the US leading in this area which would likely affect the mindset of some.
The front-runner for the dems is not gay.
We already have had a gay President. James Buchanan, 15th President served in office from 1857-1861. He lived together with William Rufus King for 10 years, during which time many referred to King as Buchanan’s better half. King was also the 13th. Vice President, serving under President Franklin Pierce. Thus we’ve even already had a gay Vice President before are first gay President.
We have a Black Republican President that is a Democrat In Name Only. I have been saying that for years and getting flak from both Left AND Right. His heroes are Lincoln and Reagan- both Illinois Republicans.
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/obama-is-a-republican/
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/21/reagan_adviser_bruce_bartlett_face_it_obama_is_a_conservative/?source=newsletter
The Black folk where I live seem to be doing fine. Lots of Black folk driving Audis, BMWs and the occasional Benz- quite a step up from Crapillacs and Buicks from Gubmint Motors.
The white trash I am not so sure of. They are home skoolin’ their offspring and filling their heads with nonsense that will be about as marketable as dehydrated water. They are then packing them off to private for-profit diploma mills where they get a worthless degree and a truckload of debt.
I read that article and much of it have to agree with. Continuity of policy with the Bush administration is extremely high, but I always regarded Bush as a RINO. Heh.
I didn’t vote for Dubya, either. Worked for his daddy (GHW Bush) in 1980 in the G.O.P. Primaries. Got to meet both of them a long time ago- 2 future Presidents in the same room.
gee, then you celebrated Halloween early that year.
Carter was in the White House and Ronnie RayGun was the other choice. Not a good year.
Having a black president probably means you have to fight harder for change right now. Too many old white men with money will be resisting progress, telling each other that change is happening too quickly etc.
Fighting for equality is like waves on the beach as the tide comes in. It’s all forward/backward when you look too closely, but overall there is a definite trend going on.
What do you define “fighting for equality”?
Gradually chipping away at the laws that for historical reasons disadvantage you compared to the rest of the general population, simply because you are a member of a minority group.
hard to decide which is more boring: The Who’s Gay Crap or The FIFA World Cup….
YOU decide!
Amen, the FIFA World Cup was over the top, although I did watch the final match between Germany and Agentina, and I have never seen so many grown men cry as the Argentina team. They smashed into some other guy injuring them and cried about it. Amazing. I think they ran out of energy near the end due to all the tears and finally lost.
Folowing a few of your posts cant help but feel that You are a conflicted and troubled man …
I have never got that impression, I am guessing you have a specific political filter which you evaluate everything through which dramatically colors your ability to objectively assess other people’s views and motives.
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Damn right about that! Obama has caused more racial strife than he was supposed to fix. He and those other two race peddling poverty pimps Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. All of them have harmed black people in America more than anyone. About Tim Cook… I’ve never cared about his personal life. It’s great that he has done this. Tim Cook is a real role model, for anyone. Gay, straight, confused, whatever. Tim Cook didn’t make his fortune leeching off of other people. Obama did.
That’s because even a Black President can’t accomplish much with rich white men’s money lining the pockets of everyone that surrounds him.
Hooray for Tim Cook.
We all knew he was gay and there was no need for him to come out for us, but if this helps just one lonely person somewhere, I say Good For Tim! He embodies the best of APPLE.
TOM O’CONNELL
Plus one thousand
HRC: No greater group of self-serving gay elites in this country. I know more than a few LGBT folks who roll their eyes whenever they make their PR moves.
And let’s be honest: Tim Cook didn’t get to where he was because he was attracted to other men. He got there because of his professionalism, hard work, and intelligence.
The Human Rights Campaign is the most American of institutions. It is a group of Americans who are tired of second class status and have stood up to claim their place at the table. Many have preceded them and some will doubtless follow.
Most great things that have happened to change America are because of people the mainstream first called troublemakers. Look up Ida B Wells- of Holly Springs, Mississippi- an ass kicker and great American. Wish we had more like her.
Snoooooorrrre. How much is HRC paying you?
Nothing. It is the simple truth.
Ida Wells as an African-American suffragist. Please don’t compare the situation of gay people with black people and women. Gay people are suffering with a disorder of some sort. Please stop conflating race and skin colour with sexual attraction. They aren’t really comparable.
Gay people are born that way. I have lived with 2 gay people- one in College (Freshman Roommate) and one in the Army (Barracks Roommate). Neither could be straight if you offered them a Million Dollars tax free.
Both are amazing people, lifelong friends and are not sick or dysfunctional. I wish them -Tony and Mark- the utmost happiness in life.
I have an adopted brother who was born without arms. Yes, he was born that way – but that doesn’t mean that it is not a dysfunction.
“Born that way” has nothing to do with it.
You prefer to look at your brother as dysfunctional rather than as a human being born without arms. That’s what I’m reading.
Gay people are not born that way. Anymore than straight people are born that way.
Wake up, Devolved.
‘Evolved’ thought? :
‘gays’ are born that way…however if natural selection is true they can not have offspring…so they die out. According to natural selection they should never have children.
If the ‘gay’ is used as a donor homosexuality is not passed on…
In cases where an identical is ‘gay’ the twin is not – impossible if the genes cause the homosexuality.
Just because someone has a bent towards something, and believes they had it from birth doesn’t make it so!
Everyone has choices – these choices are often influenced over time by various things and have a deep effect – so that yes no amount of money would change it – but that does not mean ‘genetic determination’ is the only answer.
Some people are born gay and know natural selection would not cause them to die out. That is quite a leap.
Same sex attraction happens throughout nature and is as old as Adam and Steve.
The only one suffering from a disorder around here is zoo.
The problem with our Black President, is that he’s an amateur that has never accomplished anything. He’s not a politician, and doesn’t not like the political process. He was a blank slate going in, and is over his head.
I take it I’m the only one here that thinks given the mess he inherited he’s not done too badly then? When you have Congress stuffed full of obstruction and division and a massive deficit you somehow have to get down without killing the economy in the process, you’ve got to compromise on all sorts of things you wanted to achieve. That the ship has steadied at all is worth celebrating, even if there still is a long way to go.
Whoever was in the Oval Office immediately after the 2008 crash was going to have it tough. Do you think McCain, or even Hillary Clinton, would have done any better?
” he’s an amateur that has never accomplished anything”
Except rising to the leader of the strongest country on earth.
well then, you’d apply that to your heroes CIA George and Dubya also?
thought not.
but Michael Jordan said today Obola Messiah was a shitty golf player…I guess practice doesn’t make perfect.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/10/30/michael-jordan-on-playing-golf-with-potus-hes-a-hack-it-would-be-all-day-playing-with-him/
Time to bring back the Apple rainbow logo?
If Apple brought back colored Apple shirts representing equality I would where one proudly. I am not gay, will march for SNLGBT rights. (S for straight! N for non-sexual.)
I’ll know the world has changed when I can come out as an atheist without fearing repercussion. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel persecuted. How long must we be punished like this?
I cannot deal with this hate any longer.
http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/03/24/atheists-hated-more-than-gays-muslims-all-other-groups.htm
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All because I don’t believe in a magic dude.
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Atheists are hated more than any other group in America. Surprised? Atheists know this very well, but a recent survey conducted by the University of Minnesota has provided new evidence of it. According to most of those surveyed, atheists fall below Muslims, gays, and every other minority group when it comes to “sharing their vision of American society.”
Survey says (via Pharyngula):
Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.
I wonder how much animus towards atheists derives from the unwillingness of atheists to think in categories like whether they have the authority to allow their children to marry someone or not.
Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public. Atheists, who account for about 3 percent of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years, says Penny Edgell, associate sociology professor and the studys lead researcher.
This wont be a surprise to any atheists in America. Atheists arent tolerated in a wide array of contexts and there are many examples where bigotry or discrimination towards are atheists in contexts where similar behavior towards Jews or blacks would be unequivocally condemned.
Isn’t that weird? I mean really weird. I’m one of the most hated, least trust people in the country because I don’t believe in a magic guy. It’s like I accidentally got off the bus in the 16th century or something.
Yeah, that is weird. Especially when you get cases where enlisted atheist servicemen get treated like crap for not believing in any deity. So even those who put their lives on the line for your country, and are normally feted for it, suffer from this anti-atheist hatred that goes on. Beyond strange.
I’m glad to say we’re over the hill on that one here in the UK. Religion hasn’t been huge here for 200 years anyway, more something that people just align with rather than follow, but these days you can tell people you don’t have a religion without comeback. People might not agree with you, but they just accept it anyway.
Wish it were that way in the U.S. I just keep my agnostic mouth shut except for the occasional online forum.
there were no buses in the 16th century, Mr. Anachronism.
….wait! It’s a miracle!
Sure there were. They just had bit more literal horse power.
…and the ensuing, tell-tale evidence of horses, often personified in the touchy-feely nonsense posted here.
I was born incapable of faith. I am “Faith Challenged.” Why do you hate me?
It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
If only everyone behaved as well as the guy from your quote.
…but, but…he was boinkin’ slave girls!
I haven’t found that it’s affected me in any negative way to be atheist. But, I don’t live in the deep south anymore either. Even then I was upfront about it and no one ever created an issue about it. And that was many years ago. If people hate you, maybe it’s for some other reason.
In tests sending out resumes from implicit atheist (atheist organization in their “other accomplishments” section), job applicants did substantially worse than most other religions.
Except muslims. They really got hit.
Everyone has faith – it’s what you put your faith in that matters…
The 3% figure is pretty meaningless. I remember when gays were only attributed around the same percentage. When people aren’t threatened by speaking their mind, either physically or socially, I think we’ll find the number is substantially higher. Fear is a strong motivator.
That 3% is definitely small. 97% of all adults cannot possibly all be that stupid today. Many of them are atheists who feel compelled to keep it private.
It might not all be because of fear, though. I think a large part of it is politeness.
They believe in an oddly specific fantasy, which has no basis in reality, despite countless clues that it’s totally fake – is there any honest way to phrase that which respects the intelligence of people who believe?
I don’t think there’s any nice way to tell people God isn’t real. It’s like telling children there’s no Santa Clause.
Telling the truth, and being nice to people, are two of the most important things for any moral person. And they are completely at odds with each other in this situation. Many people (not me) would rather just be nice – it’s way easier to make friends that way. So that’s one big reason why we end up so many private atheists.
Please. I’m a gay, black, atheist. Really, this isn’t a joke or a prank. I had no choice in any of those things; it’s just who I am. One thing I do have a choice in, though, is whether or not I’m going to be a victim. I’m not. I’m not evil or immoral, and I’ll not going to let anyone get away with telling me that I am.
I honestly believe in freedom of choice and expression. People can believe whatever they want. But their right to expression ends when it intersects my right to exist. If they leave me alone I’ll do the same.
Oh man, you are mixed up!
One from Column A, two from Column B… If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked a long time ago.
VERY well stated! I’m 2 out of 3 of those, myself (not black).
1 out of 3 here. But we’re all humans, and that’s what really matters, in my view. Our commonalities outweigh our differences thousands of times over.
So long as you’re not an ANTI-theist (“I think anyone who believe in God is somehow mentally deficient”) but an atheist (“I do not believe that there is a God”), I don’t think we’d have a problem being friends; I have several friends who are atheist.
Now, if you’re the kind of atheist who says “I believe that there is no God,” I’d be even more interested in talking to you; while it is possible to make at least a inductive “proof” of the existence of God (and such are not at all conclusive), it is logically impossible to prove a negative. It would be an interesting conversation.
As much as it is commendable that Tim Cook feels the need to make this personal statement, let’s be honest – it doesn’t get better for everyone.
An interesting read on the subject of Gay CEOs:
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/gay-ceos/
I thought our current president was elected BECAUSE he was black? It certainly wasn’t because of his qualifications…
I thought it was because he was just black enough, without being too black.
Just black enough to qualify? Makes sense. Still not because of his work qualifications…
A lot of independents voted for Obama because he ran a smart and positive campaign, and on the other side McCain, who I have great respect for, suddenly bent his views to the far right after years of being independent and … Palin.
Unfortunately, elections are not about finding a great president, because there are only two realistic choices. Having all US political power consolidated into just two parties is not a recipe for individual voting power.
Sure, this will save countless lives and make him even more of an inspirational role model for millions. But what about all those Republican AAPL stock holders with no gay friends or family members – how is this going to make them feel? They’re the real persecuted minority we should be concerned about here. /sarcasm
Humankind should not forget that in this world “Life” is the only value!!!
I’ll be sure and forward your sentiments to all the serial killers on Death Row.
I’m surprised Lee Kun-hee of Samsung hasn’t yet announced that he is gay too.
Everytime you hear “human rights” someone put his hand in your pocket.
…and if they say “It’s for the children!” it’s in your other pocket.
So Sodomy brought on by molestation now reigns supreme in Amerika?
Most of my gay aquerttenances were sodomized to the point they would either go crazy or pretend to like it. They pretended and survived but lead extremely warped lives and have LG parties where the gals are the men. Sodom and Gomorrah is here.
Querness is forced sex. Don’t pretend otherwise. Being proud of it demonstrates how bad off we are as a society. Sodomy still carries the death penalty.
Remember when the Bedroom was different than the Boardroom? I personally am sick to death of the Gaystapo Agenda. I don’t care who you love, poke or whatever, why does it matter and if it doesn’t then shut up about it already.
Serious question:
How many homosexuals have been killed for their ‘orientation’?
There is all this talk of saving lives – but the life taking is coming from where?
My heart goes out to the families of many who have had a loved one end their own life – of these a small percentage I assume are interpreted as being from ‘intolerance’ from others – but is this figure any higher than kids who are overweight? Or what about those who have nothing ‘wrong’ but still feel empty, depressed etc?
Should we keep re-defining our foundations / religious freedoms to try to appease them? Will it help them?
Truth is, we all have desires and a need for fulfilment from somewhere – people choose all kinds of things and then often feel a hidden guilt from said behaviour. Many ‘science’ based groups try to deal with it with therapies and drugs – but the more they have, the higher the suicide and addiction rates have climbed.
There is another answer – that God really does fulfil – that His love really is enough…
Talking of death =- those who have discovered this are dieting for their beliefs in far greater numbers than any group in Western Society and what is said about them?