Remarkable moment in the history of corporate America. This is a game-changer.
He's truly bold, and my hats off to him. The company's in very good hands, sir.
Why? Tim Cook proves that ones sexual orientation doesn't matter. It was well known inside the company that he was gay. That didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple.
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
Silence implies implicit compliance with the anti-gay laws and the 'dont ask, dont tell' attitude still prevalent in many places.
I saw the news media pretending to be "shocked" abut it this morning. At first, I thought it was a commercial for Hotels.com and we were going to see the character of "Captain Obvious" explaining it, but I soon realized that it was another typical attempt to create a mountain out of a molehill.
Remarkable moment in the history of corporate America. This is a game-changer.
He's truly bold, and my hats off to him. The company's in very good hands, sir.
Why? Tim Cook proves that ones sexual orientation doesn't matter. It was well known inside the company that he was gay. That didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple.
From the article:
He said that while privacy remains important to him and the decision to come out wasn't an "easy choice," he hopes that hearing the CEO of Apple is gay might help someone else who is struggling with their own identity.
And thanks to Steve Jobs for placing Tim in the position to realize his full potential as CEO of Apple -- the greatest corporate organization in the world!
This just proves that sexual orientation doesn't matter. Being gay didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple. Because sexuality has no bearing on whether someone will be a good CEO or not.
I fully agree and am a bit confused by this as well. He talks too much political issues, but rarely (except keynotes, of course) technical issues. Although I agree with Tim's political views – that's not why I want to listen to him.
Because Steve founded Apple as a company based on the intersection of science and the liberal arts this kind of predisposes Apple as a company and Tim as a leader to have views some of the more extreme minded here don't want to hear about. I am not taking a position, simply pointing out Tim is in line with 'Apple' very much and Steve would be very happy with all he has done and said IMHO.
Remarkable moment in the history of corporate America. This is a game-changer.
He's truly bold, and my hats off to him. The company's in very good hands, sir.
Why? Tim Cook proves that ones sexual orientation doesn't matter. It was well known inside the company that he was gay. That didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple.
Um... It clearly seems to matter to people like you, who implied in a previous post that there might somehow be a tradeoff between his being open in his gayness and his ability focus like a 'laser' on products. (As though he hasn't; what bs).
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
Because it still needed to be said. How far you achieve in your career shouldn't be held hostage to sexual orientation. The United States has been turning on this issue in a remarkably short period of time...it reminds me of the transition in the civil rights movement from 1965 (the year I was born) to 1975 when I grew up as a kid not seeing white only lunch counters, water fountains, etc. My daughter is eight years old, and one of her friends and his brother were adopted by a lesbian couple shortly after they were born. My daughter has known them and their family since she was three years old. Their family situation is what it is, and her generation will grow up largely not remembering what growing up in American was like in the 1990s and before for people who are LGBT.
Tim Cook likely isn't the only CEO of a major corporation who's gay, but he's certainly one of the most powerful gay men on earth right now. Just the acknowledgement of that fact is important, because despite that fact that he basically wasn't trying to hide it, it's not exactly printed in his bio either. He can now be completely open about these things and speak with complete authority to others (like the Alabama state legislature). If he has a long time partner, that person need not hide any longer either.
Tim Cook doesn't have to be an "advocate". He just has to be. And that's enough to trigger this conversation.
Oh please, it's 2014. Every other day someone is coming out. It's not a big deal anymore. But still it's Apple so it will be a distraction and he can kiss is privacy goodbye,
Yep. He's becoming a bit of a distraction lately, Steve was bigger than Apple because of all the tech stuff he'd done. If he spoke out, it was on a technical issue like Flash or DRM. Tim seems to see Apple as some sort of political engine.
Actually Steve was a social liberal but pro-business and supported Obama with reservations. Why should Cook have to hide in the closet or make his sexual orientation a secret to avoid offending religious homophobes and bigots?
Because it still needed to be said. How far you achieve in your career shouldn't be held hostage to sexual orientation. The United States has been turning on this issue in a remarkably short period of time...it reminds me of the transition in the civil rights movement from 1965 (the year I was born) to 1975 when I grew up as a kid not seeing white only lunch counters, water fountains, etc. My daughter is eight years old, and one of her friends and his brother were adopted by a lesbian couple shortly after they were born. My daughter has known them and their family since she was three years old. Their family situation is what it is, and her generation will grow up largely not remembering what growing up in American was like in the 1990s and before for people who are LGBT.
Tim Cook likely isn't the only CEO of a major corporation who's gay, but he's certainly one of the most powerful gay men on earth right now. Just the acknowledgement of that fact is important, because despite that fact that he basically wasn't trying to hide it, it's not exactly printed in his bio either. He can now be completely open about these things and speak with complete authority to others (like the Alabama state legislature). If he has a long time partner, that person need not hide any longer either.
Tim Cook doesn't have to be an "advocate". He just has to be. And that's enough to trigger this conversation.
Well clearly Tim Cook wasn't held hostage for being gay. It was widely known inside and outside the company that he was gay and look where he is now - CEO.
This just proves that sexual orientation doesn't matter. Being gay didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple. Because sexuality has no bearing on whether someone will be a good CEO or not.
Uhhh, no. Remember that he grew up in rural Alabama, not the Castro district. My mother's family is from rural Alabama and we're African-American. Some of the stories Tim Cook has told about watching cross burnings and other acts of violence against blacks hit home to me since this was what my mother and her parents faced daily. As a young gay person growing up there, being open about his sexuality in the 1970's probably would have opened himself up to all kinds of discrimination and possible physical violence. Growing up in this environment is not easy. The fact that he negotiated all of that crap to still get to the top of his profession is indeed, remarkable.
Plus, this won't help in Apple's attempts to sell in the Middle East or to those whose religious views will now dictate they not buy Apple products.
Middle Eastern religious views and laws pertain only to those who are of their faith, not outsiders. This is why they don't have a problem when dealing with "western" women. Of course every "group" or has radicals and extremists, but they're usually not in charge of corporations.
Well clearly Tim Cook wasn't held hostage for being gay. It was widely known inside and outside the company that he was gay and look where he is now - CEO.
It was "an open secret". Now it's just "open". Open secrets are still socially problematic because (in this case) he was still acknowledging the obvious to placate the bigotry of others. The charade is over, thankfully. And like he said, if it inspires one LGBT kid to advance professionally in business through his example, then opening the world to his life is a good thing.
Comments
Why? Tim Cook proves that ones sexual orientation doesn't matter. It was well known inside the company that he was gay. That didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple.
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
Silence implies implicit compliance with the anti-gay laws and the 'dont ask, dont tell' attitude still prevalent in many places.
To be honest, this isn't a complete shock if you knew much about the guy.
From the article:
This just proves that sexual orientation doesn't matter. Being gay didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple. Because sexuality has no bearing on whether someone will be a good CEO or not.
Because Steve founded Apple as a company based on the intersection of science and the liberal arts this kind of predisposes Apple as a company and Tim as a leader to have views some of the more extreme minded here don't want to hear about. I am not taking a position, simply pointing out Tim is in line with 'Apple' very much and Steve would be very happy with all he has done and said IMHO.
Um... It clearly seems to matter to people like you, who implied in a previous post that there might somehow be a tradeoff between his being open in his gayness and his ability focus like a 'laser' on products. (As though he hasn't; what bs).
Please stop dissembling.
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
Because it still needed to be said. How far you achieve in your career shouldn't be held hostage to sexual orientation. The United States has been turning on this issue in a remarkably short period of time...it reminds me of the transition in the civil rights movement from 1965 (the year I was born) to 1975 when I grew up as a kid not seeing white only lunch counters, water fountains, etc. My daughter is eight years old, and one of her friends and his brother were adopted by a lesbian couple shortly after they were born. My daughter has known them and their family since she was three years old. Their family situation is what it is, and her generation will grow up largely not remembering what growing up in American was like in the 1990s and before for people who are LGBT.
Tim Cook likely isn't the only CEO of a major corporation who's gay, but he's certainly one of the most powerful gay men on earth right now. Just the acknowledgement of that fact is important, because despite that fact that he basically wasn't trying to hide it, it's not exactly printed in his bio either. He can now be completely open about these things and speak with complete authority to others (like the Alabama state legislature). If he has a long time partner, that person need not hide any longer either.
Tim Cook doesn't have to be an "advocate". He just has to be. And that's enough to trigger this conversation.
Oh please, it's 2014. Every other day someone is coming out. It's not a big deal anymore. But still it's Apple so it will be a distraction and he can kiss is privacy goodbye,
Yep. He's becoming a bit of a distraction lately, Steve was bigger than Apple because of all the tech stuff he'd done. If he spoke out, it was on a technical issue like Flash or DRM. Tim seems to see Apple as some sort of political engine.
Actually Steve was a social liberal but pro-business and supported Obama with reservations. Why should Cook have to hide in the closet or make his sexual orientation a secret to avoid offending religious homophobes and bigots?
Next week in Korea Times, "I'm gay too" - Samsung
Close the thread. We have a winner.
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I am still waiting for "rationality" in the home automation space that we were hoping for this year.
LOOOOOLLLLL
This just proves that sexual orientation doesn't matter. Being gay didn't stop him from becoming CEO of Apple. Because sexuality has no bearing on whether someone will be a good CEO or not.
Uhhh, no. Remember that he grew up in rural Alabama, not the Castro district. My mother's family is from rural Alabama and we're African-American. Some of the stories Tim Cook has told about watching cross burnings and other acts of violence against blacks hit home to me since this was what my mother and her parents faced daily. As a young gay person growing up there, being open about his sexuality in the 1970's probably would have opened himself up to all kinds of discrimination and possible physical violence. Growing up in this environment is not easy. The fact that he negotiated all of that crap to still get to the top of his profession is indeed, remarkable.
This will help save lives. Maybe not a lot, but one suicide averted is enough.
Plus, this won't help in Apple's attempts to sell in the Middle East or to those whose religious views will now dictate they not buy Apple products.
Middle Eastern religious views and laws pertain only to those who are of their faith, not outsiders. This is why they don't have a problem when dealing with "western" women. Of course every "group" or has radicals and extremists, but they're usually not in charge of corporations.
Well clearly Tim Cook wasn't held hostage for being gay. It was widely known inside and outside the company that he was gay and look where he is now - CEO.
It was "an open secret". Now it's just "open". Open secrets are still socially problematic because (in this case) he was still acknowledging the obvious to placate the bigotry of others. The charade is over, thankfully. And like he said, if it inspires one LGBT kid to advance professionally in business through his example, then opening the world to his life is a good thing.