Tim Cook has spoken out about the need for his home state of Alabama to better address LGBT rights in a speech delivered today at the Alabama Academy of Honor induction, in front of Governor Robert Bentley.
Cook discussed his admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and noted how, “I could never understand why some within our state and nation resisted basic principles of human dignity that were so opposite to the values I had learned growing up in Robertsdale, Alabama in a family that was rich in love and respect.”
He went on to say that, “We were too slow on equality on African-Americans. We were too slow on interracial marriage. And we are still too slow on equality for the LBGT community.”
Alabama remains one of the 18 states without marriage equality.
This is far from the first time Tim Cook has led the charge to address LGBT rights. During today’s speech he commented how, “Dr. King once said our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter,” and that, “I have long promised myself to never be silent in my beliefs.”
Late last year, Cook penned an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal urging Congress to approve a bill designed to “protect workers against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
In June this year, he also joined thousands of Apple employees and their families marched in the San Francisco Pride Parade, coming from all over the world to support LGBT rights and to celebrate Apple’s commitment to equality and diversity During the event he tweeted that, “inclusion inspires innovation.”
Tim Cook additionally discussed the importance of education in today’s speech at the Alabama Academy of Honor induction, calling it a “fundamental human right for everyone.”
Earlier this year, Apple pledged $100 million to President Obama’s ConnectED program, with the aim of bringing reliable, high-speed broadband to 99% of schools in the United States. Apple also published a new website today detailing exactly where this money will be going, with 114 schools in 29 states being benefitted.
As CEO of Apple, Cook has spoken about his desire for the company to be a “force for good” in the world.
Via: The Verge
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
12 responses to “Tim Cook slams Alabama for slow evolution on LGBT rights”
Cook should shut up and get on with his day job or do us all a favour by leaving Apple and run for office if he wants to bang on about gay rights at every opportunity. As it stands he is abusing his position at Apple to promote his private views.
You sir, are a Jackass.
My guess is that you are totally cool with the Kochs ‘abusing their power’ by stomping on voting rights and destroying the middle class.
Witch Doctor says you refer to someone as a ‘jackass’, yet you slobber nonsense about Koch Brothers. LOL. You’re verifying the belief that many psychologists and psychiatrists believe – that liberals have a mental disorder.
Bones never lie.
Bill Gates donated $500K to support gay marriage: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bill-and-melinda-gates-donate-500k-suppor
Google showing same support to legalise gay marriage.
The list goes on.
All the while you be like hurr durr.
You’ve never recovered from having your lunch counter “invaded”, have you?
I don’t care if he’s gay or not. My point is that he’s a CEO not a Politician. If he feels strongly about wanting to change things he can always run for office and let the voters decide. He’s not paid $60m a year to promote his personal views.
He isn’t a politician, but he is a CEO with tens of thousands of employees who deserve equal rights and protections, not some two-tiered level of second class citizenship meted out by people who mistakenly believe they control the moral/legal mandate of the land.
Glad to see Tim stepping up but I don’t think those bible thumpers in Alabama nor the rest of the South care very much about Tim’s beliefs.
I was hoping to read about the grim looks on their faces as he called them bigots in perhaps a nice way.
Grabbed it! Thanks! ;)
Witch Doctor says soon, perverted humans will be allowed to marry animals and innate objects. Some of which will come with government benefits, including compensation…
Bones never lie.
How ironic to use the word Evolution, since many in Alabama don’t believe in that either. As for gay rights, I say kudos to Tim Cook. I am the straightest of straight men, but I will always stand on the side of equality. Discrimination is cruel to those directly affected and it is harmful to a society as a whole. And it’s downright ignorant.