Name: Insights: Tech Debate - Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay
Uploaded: 2020-02-06
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: FORTUNE editors discuss what it could mean for the company. (October 2014)

[MUSIC PLAYING] Apple's chief executive Tim Cook recently revealed in an essay in Bloomberg Businessweek that he's gay. Phil, does that even matter in 2014? It does not matter one iota to Apple's sales. He might lose a couple of customers in Russia, including the tycoon who said that Apple products should be banned. But more importantly, this is likely to help Apple in terms of positioning it as a company that really lives out what it says in terms of espousing diversity. It's certainly not been a secret in Silicon Valley, right? We've kind of known Tim Cook to be gay for a long time. He's just not acknowledged it. And in fact, even this year, he walked in the San Francisco Pride Parade. The question is whether or not his announcement is going to set in motion kind of a domino effect through the rest of the Fortune 500. Because as far as I know, he's the only executive in the current 500 to publicly acknowledge that he's gay. Well, that remains to be seen. It's a conservative milieu, but certainly with Mr. Cook's example, he's showing that a company that happens to be the most valuable in the world in terms of market cap can have a gay CEO. Right, it's a bold decision. He was definitely lauded for it. Mark Zuckerberg came out and said, good on you. Satya Nadella did the same, John Legere, the CEO of T-Mobile. But at the same time, there's a huge gap in this country. On one hand, Fortune 500 companies, the vast majority, 91% banned sexual discrimination. On the other hand, you can get fired for this in half of US states. So it's really crazy. Well, in fact, it is ludicrous. And I think when you think of somebody like Tim Cook in some company somewhere could be fired, and that company that's firing him has deprived themselves of that skill. But the companies that you mentioned, plus you think of Goldman Sachs, Apple, all these companies have gone out of their way to tell people, we welcome LGBT workers, which has become, in a way, a litmus test for the most talented people in any industry. Right. Well, it's a fair point. 

Insights: Tech Debate - Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay

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FORTUNE editors discuss what it could mean for the company.

Tech Debate - Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay

FORTUNE editors discuss what it could mean for the company. (October 2014)

Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook, recently revealed in an essay, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek that he's gay. Still, does that even matter? In 2014? It does not matter one iota toe Apple's sales. You know he might lose a couple of customers in Russia Tycoon who said that Apple product should be banned. But more importantly, uh, this is likely to help Apple in terms of positioning it as the company that really lives out what it says in terms of the spouse endeavors today. It's certainly not been a secret in Silicon Valley, right? We've kind of known Tim Cook to be gay for a long time. It's just not acknowledged it. And in fact, even this year he walked in the San Francisco Pride Parade. The question is whether or not his announcement is gonna set in motion kind of a domino effect through the rest of the Fortune 500 because as far as I know, he's the on Lee executive in the current 500 to publicly acknowledge he's gay. Well, that remains to be seen. You know, it's a conservative familiar, but certainly with Mr Cook's example, he's showing that a company that happens to be the most valuable in the world in terms of market cap can have a gay CEO, right? It's a bold decision. Hey, was definitely loud it for it. Mark Zuckerberg came out and said, Good on your stocking. The Della did the same John Lee Jerry, the CEO of T Mobile. But at the same time, there's a huge gap in this country, you know, On one hand, Fortune 500 companies, the vast majority 91% ban sexual discrimination. On the other hand, you can get fired for this in half of U. S States. So it's it's really crazy. Well, in fact, this ludicrous. And I think you know when you think of somebody like Tim Cook and some company somewhere could be fired and that company firing him is surprised myself with that skill. But the companies that you mentioned plus, you think of Goldman Sachs, apple. All these companies have gone out of their way to tell people we welcome LGBT workers, which has become, in a way, a litmus test for the most talented people in any industry. Right? That's a fair point