Apple once again showed its support for gay rights over the weekend by participating in San Francisco’s LGBT Pride festival. Numerous Apple employees, including Tim Cook, took part — and Apple even distributed custom limited edition rainbow Apple Watch bands to people on the Cupertino payroll who registered for the event.
Happy Pride to everyone who turned out this weekend to celebrate! #applepride #pride2016 pic.twitter.com/3GZlc9s6bl
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 26, 2016
A card Apple included alongside the Apple Watch band was shared on Reddit by user Sakusuhon. It reads: “Apple’s first Diversity Network Association, Pride, turns 30 this year and we’re thrilled to celebrate this tremendous milestone with you! As recognition for everyone who registered to participate in the Pride event this year we created something special.
This limited-edition band is a symbol of our commitment to equality and we hope you’ll wear it with pride.”
Currently there appear to be no plans for the rainbow Watch straps to be made available for customers to buy, although we guess there’s a possibility of that changing down the line as Apple continues to offer new straps and increase its support for LGBT issues around the world.
As an openly gay man, LGBT issues have been particularly important to Tim Cook during his stint at Apple — even though the company had a history of taking a stand on progressive issues before Cook joined. Earlier this year, Out Magazine ranked Tim Cook as the most influential LGBT person of 2016 in its 10th annual power list — ranking based on everything from a person’s impact on the economy and political clout to how they change our world view.