I am proud to be gay, declares Tim Cook

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has come out publicly to admit that he is gay, saying he considers "being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me".

 

In an essay published by Businessweek, he has said: “Let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” 53-year-old Cook wrote in the essay.

 

The Apple CEO has never spoken publicly about his sexual preferences.

 

"Throughout my professional life, I’ve tried to maintain a basic level of privacy. I come from humble roots, and I don’t seek to draw attention to myself. Apple is already one of the most closely watched companies in the world, and I like keeping the focus on our products and the incredible things our customers achieve with them.

"For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences. Not everyone is so lucky."

 

To read the full letter, click here