Apple CEO Tim Cook 'honoured' to have anti-discrimination law named after him
The Alabama-based Tim Cook Economic Development Act, introduced by gay congresswoman Patricia Todd, outlaws discrimination in the workplace
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Your support makes all the difference.Tim Cook, the Apple CEO who came out as gay publicly for the first time in October, has had an Alabama bill to outlaw discrimination based on sexuality in the workplace named after him.
Gay state congresswoman Patricia Todd revealed her intentions to name the legislation – called the Tim Cook Economic Development Act – after the technology entrepreneur following his decision to become the first out CEO in a Top 100 company in history.
Cook initially stayed quiet on Todd’s tribute, which led some to claim he was at odds with the use of his name.
However, he has since declared himself to be “honoured” by the title.
“Todd wanted to name an anti-discrimination bill after him, and we’re sorry if there was any miscommunication about it,” an Apple spokesperson told Reuters.
“We have a long history of support for LGBT rights and we hope every state will embrace workplace equality for all.”
Todd said she has since been in touch with Cook’s official office and hopes to invite him to the state to speak in support of the bill personally.
“We have extended the invitation to him, but he is a busy man and of course Apple comes first,” she said. “I hope he can fit it into his schedule.”
Cook addressed his sexuality for the first time in an open letter published on the Bloomberg Businessweek.
“Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day,” he wrote.
“It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.”
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