Apple boss Tim Cook to receive honour from Human Rights Campaign
Out Apple CEO Tim Cook will receive the highest honour from pro-LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign.
Mr Cook, who succeeded Steve Jobs as the head of the Cupertino firm, spoke about his sexuality for the first time last year, having previously insisted on maintaining his own privacy.
He has shown his support for LGBT rights on a number of occasions since – even marching under the company’s banner at Pride events.
The tech boss will receive tomorrow receive an honour at the HRC National Dinner on Saturday, October 3, 2015.
HRC President Chad Griffin: “Tim Cook is a visionary whose leadership of Apple has been nothing short of remarkable.
“His willingness to bravely and directly speak his truth has not only given hope to countless people around the world, it has saved lives.
“Through his example and Apple’s commitment to equality, LGBT young people in particular can look to Tim Cook’s incredible career and know that there is nothing holding them back.
“They can dream as big as their minds allow them to, even if they want to be the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies. HRC is honored to welcome Tim to our National Dinner.”
HRC lauded the CEO, saying: “As head of one of the most innovative and creative companies in the world, Cook’s personal and professional contributions to equality are deeply significant and impactful.
“As an openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Cook continues to have an enormous impact on Corporate America and beyond.
“This past year, Cook has consistently lent his powerful voice to the fight for full LGBT equality by supporting pro-equality legislation, and most recently helping to fight back an onslaught of state-level anti-LGBT legislation – most notably in the high-profile fights against notorious so-called ‘religious freedom’ bills in Arkansas and Indiana.
The charity added: “He has been a consistent supporter of federal LGBT non-discrimination legislation, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
“Under Cook’s leadership, Apple was one of the earliest major corporations to come out in support of the Equality Act – a landmark federal bill that would guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people from discrimination in many of the most important aspects of their lives.
“During his tenure, Apple has remained a strong leader in advocating for LGBT equality.
“In 2002, Apple was one of only 13 companies to earn a perfect score of 100 percent on HRC’s inaugural Corporate Equality Index, a landmark national benchmarking tool that measures LGBT inclusion in the workplace. It has maintained a perfect score every year since.”
