Tim Cook Says He's Gay and Wants To Help Others

In a statement published recently in BusinessWeek, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, openly admitted that he is gay.

The statement was in the form of an essay that Cook wrote explaining his decision to come out publicly. He noted that many in Apple already knew that he is gay and that he had never told people otherwise.

Cook said his decision to openly admit that he is gay was influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King who said, "Life's most persistent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

While he was mulling about that question, he said he came to realize that his desire for privacy was stopping him from publicly acknowledging that he is gay.

He then had a sudden change of mind. In his essay, Cook wrote: "If I can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, I consider it well worth the trade-off my own privacy."

He also noted that the sacrifice made by others has benefited him. In the same vein, by coming out publicly about his true sexual orientation, he hopes that he could inspire and help other people.

"I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me," Cook said.

He said his decision to openly admit that he is gay has given him confidence to deal with the adversities in life.

Cook also noted that society has progressed and people now understand that race, sexuality or gender cannot alone define an individual.

He expressed hope that others will understand that all he wants is to "concentrate on doing the things I'm best suited for and the work that brings me joy."

The New York Times commented that Cook's statement was well thought out. The paper also noted that he chose to publish it in BusinessWeek as he has a long standing relationship with the publication. Moreover, the paper said his revelation conveyed a "buttoned-up and business-focused" approach to the issue.