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Praise for Apple CEO Tim Cook’s essay: ‘I’m proud to be gay.’

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Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly identified himself as a gay man Thursday, acknowledging what many co-workers and some others knew, in a column in Bloomberg BusinessWeek that explained he values his privacy but also wants "to 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."

The New York Times called him "by far the most prominent executive of a public company to come out."

So what? So plenty. High five for acceptance, first of all.

Yes, of course, this comment (by reader Moiz Ahmadon) was the most popular on The Times' Facebook page, with 100 likes and counting three hours after publication: "he should have said iGAY."

And Cook's essay spurred a series of jokes on Twitter about the long-running legal conflict between Apple and Samsung.

'Samsung's been gay for years'

But the conversation around Cook's decision to come out obviously transcended easy humor. Because it's not an easy decision for many.

Cook, 53, has never spoken publicly about his sexual orientation despite being in the spotlight at the top of a company known around the world.

"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," he began. "At the same time, I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ”

He went on:

"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.

While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

And he ended his essay with these words:

"When I arrive in my office each morning, I’m greeted by framed photos of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy. I don’t pretend that writing this puts me in their league. All it does is allow me to look at those pictures and know that I’m doing my part, however small, to help others. We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick."

As word spread (and competed with the news that Kaci Hickox, the nurse being monitored for Ebola and under a house quarantine in Maine, had gone for a bike ride), reactions poured in, including one from another hugely influential tech leader, the CEO of Facebook.

'A tipping point ... toward a more tolerant society'


This was one reaction.The New York Times shared this old tweet of Cook's in its story on Thursday, one sign that he has been a supporter of gay rights. And others commented on the Cook and Hickox stories.Still others linked Cook's announcement with the company he runs.

How big a deal was it? The Huffington Post ran this headline: "Tim Cook just changed America in a way Steve Jobs never could."

In the end, it would be great if the headlines generated Thursday by Cook's announcement were as ho-hum as earlier Apple headlines this week:

Apple Insider: Apple stock closes at all time high as company aims for future growth

Cult of Mac: Apple shares hit new all-time high for third day in a row

Time: Why It's Not Too Late to Buy Apple Stock

But society's not there yet. So until that day when coming out is no big deal, these headlines serve as a reminder that many people don't feel comfortable or safe telling people who they are. And that the decision to do so is increasingly met with praise and support.

And if you're wondering how Cook's essay affected the company's stock price, here you go. It hasn't.

This is how Apple stock looked late Thursday, the day CEO Tim Cook publicly said he was gay. — Google Finance
This is how Apple stock looked late Thursday, the day CEO Tim Cook publicly said he was gay. Google Finance
( / Google Finance)
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