Apple CEO Tim Cook Says Being Gay Is 'Among the Greatest Gifts God Has Given Me'

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Oct 31, 2014

Apple CEO Tim Cook Says Being Gay Is 'Among the Greatest Gifts God Has Given Me'

Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly came out as gay and called his sexuality “among the greatest gifts God has given me” this week in a personally written piece for Businessweek

In the piece, Cook writes that while he has not hidden his sexuality at work, he never “publicly acknowledged it.” 

The technology mogul said, “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

“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. 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,” he continued. 

Cook’s announcement was met with some criticism from Christian leaders. 

Bob Stith, president of Family and Gender Issues Ministries said, "I don't think God gave that gift. From a strictly biblical standpoint this causes me to be sad for him and others that may read that and be influenced by it. Scripture calls it sin and I don't think we can ever say that sin is God's great gift to us."

Publication date: October 31, 2014



Apple CEO Tim Cook Says Being Gay Is 'Among the Greatest Gifts God Has Given Me'