Tim Cook squashed years of speculations and rumors this morning, only instead of doing it with an iPhone announcement, he made his first public declaration that’s he proud to be gay.
Cook never denied his sexuality, but the letter marks a huge moment for the LGBT community, equal rights, and society in general, as the world’s most powerful CEO committed to being an example and inspiration to those wanting to rise above adversity and bigotry.
The world’s reaction to Cook coming out like a boss has been overwhelmingly positive. Yes, the trolls and bigots have crawled out of their dark places to admonish Cook, but their voices have been refreshingly blasted out by accolades and congratulations from the world’s top CEO’s, celebrities, and activists applauding Tim’s courage.
Here’s how the world turned Tim’s coming out party into a celebration:
Apple Execs
@tim_cook = Courageous
Proud to work for you and be your friendhttps://t.co/1yZEqvke9n— Philip Schiller (@pschiller) October 30, 2014
Apple’s top excutives took to Twitter to congratulate the boss. Apple’s VP of Environment, Lisa Jackson, thanked Cook for the “great essay on justice, equality and making the world better,” while Eddy Cue and Phil Schiller both mentioned how proud they are of their friend.
The competition
Inspired by @tim_cook: “Life’s most persistent & urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’" https://t.co/wjzW5QPxqY via @BW
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) October 30, 2014
Apple’s nemesis Microsoft tipped its hat to Cook this morning, with a tweet from CEO Satya Nadella saying he’s been inspired by Tim. Sundar Pichai said the letter will “really make a difference“. T-Mobile CEO, John Legere also commended Cook for the letter with a “right on” bro, tweet.
Politicians
From one son of the South and sports fanatic to another, my hat's off to you, @Tim_cook. https://t.co/1dXvRa2Nhu
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 30, 2014
Nancy Pelosi congratulated Tim on “taking pride and making it easier for others throughout the world to do so!” Former President and Southerner Bill Clinton tipped his hat to Cook as well.
Celebrities
I wonder how all those who discriminate against people for being gay will treat Apple's CEO when he visits https://t.co/5UXOc6vGY9
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) October 30, 2014
Ashton Kutcher gave Tim Cook a shoutout on Twitter, while Richard Branson pondered how Cook’s letter will impact the business world, where there still are laws in many states allowing employers to fire people based on sexual orientation. Richard Branson also applauded Cook for the “inspirational words …on being gay, and standing up for equality.”
The Lulz
The president is black, the top rapper is a white girl from Australia and the CEO of the largest tech company on earth is a gay man.
YES
— Josh. ️ Midnight sharp. (@JoshHelfferich) October 30, 2014
It wouldn’t be an Apple announcement without a bevy of witty one-liners from the Twitter crowd.
https://twitter.com/CaseyNewton/status/527839558504042496
Apple CEO Tim Cook just announced he is gay. Now we wait for the Samsung CEO to announce that he's waaayyy more gay.
— Akshar Pathak (@AksharPathak) October 30, 2014
https://twitter.com/GlennF/status/527832885701537792
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
30 responses to “Internet comes out in support of Tim Cook for being ‘proud to be gay’”
“#whothefuckcares” “#whereismyiphone6”
Well obviously. Seriously, who bashes gays anymore? Anybody who does so is just dogpiled on by the entire community.
It happens more often than you think.
And that’s as it should be. I mean, really, it’s 2014. There should be no place for racism, sexism or homophobia in this day & age.
Harassing and threatening women is where it’s all at now. Techie boyz are on that one.
That has been a problem for the last…. 2,000 years. Men think the earth is ours, we are so wrong. It belongs to Women. So, we better get along with them. :)
There was an attack at DFW just 3 days ago, on a man wearing a pink shirt, who, apparently, the attacker assumed was “queer.”
Thankfully, he actually *was* dogpiled by fellow passengers.
Sweet. You found the one fringe case. How does this help the 99.99% of other people?
lol one fringe case? you must be a straight white guy.
This just in: Samsung CEO Boo-Keun Yoon says that he was gay first. And he is even “gayer” than Apple’s CEO.
Microsoft announced their current CEO will be gay by Q1, 2015.
Yeah, and being Gay is an innovation. :-)
Now is everyone going to announce they are gay to get attention too?
It’s like Ms. Joan Cusack’s line in “In and Out”: “Is EVERYBODY gay???!”
Right. The first Fortune 500 CEO to come out just did it for the attention.
Because otherwise, just *no one* pays any attention to the head of the leading brand in the world.
Why did he announce it in the first place? to not get attention? Oh, OK.
this type of comment is how you’ve learned you can get away with being a bigot. a subtle jab underlining a grander, deeper hatred (or self-denial)
Give me a break. Maybe you need to come out of the closet so that everyone knows your sexual preference.
1. what does that have to do with anything.
2. okay, im gay; you got me.
3. you still look like an idiot.
Hmmm, who cares? I have dozens of gay friends, I do not care for, just people. And why should be anybody proud to be a gay? What if I would say “I am proud to be a hetero”? Someone will immediatelly attack me, that I am against gays … crazy world.
cause being straight doesnt put you in the minority. is this difficult to understand?
It sort of is difficult to understand. Mainly because NO BODY CARES.
no its cause a box of rocks has a higher IQ than you.
I estimated that with all these celebritys turning gay in 30 years maybe 45 percent of the world will be gay, if that happens, I will have to join ISIS, get a nuclear warhead and bomb all gay people.
Who cares? This should answer that question: “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.”
A maligned Robber Baron. Who’s forte, is being a ruthlessly efficient Task Master, for the Oligarchy. Who is worthy of praise from none, other than the Oligarchy. Whom which he serves.
This is 2014! Who gives a flying f..k about anyones sexual orientation!
People in Saudi Arabia, India, Iran, Russia, Uganda, Jamaica, Pakistan……..?
Who the fuck cares we are on “2014” we must resist against gays, in 80 years there would be more gays than straight and they will laugh “look he is straight, what a straight hahahaha” we must kill that fags
Excellent and about time. I wonder what prompted it…..could he be about to get engaged a la michael sam and vito cammisano?