Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Apple CEO Tim Cook publishes rare op-ed in WSJ

Published Nov 4th, 2013 9:20AM EST
Tim Cook Op-ed

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

It’s rare to see Apple’s chief executive speak publicly outside of press conferences, earnings calls and the occasional industry conference, but Tim Cook on Sunday published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal urging congress to approve the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. The proposed bill now being reviewed by congress would protect workers from discrimination as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. “At Apple, we try to make sure people understand that they don’t have to check their identity at the door,” Cook wrote. “We’re committed to creating a safe and welcoming workplace for all employees, regardless of their race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation.”

He continued, “As we see it, embracing people’s individuality is a matter of basic human dignity and civil rights. It also turns out to be great for the creativity that drives our business. We’ve found that when people feel valued for who they are, they have the comfort and confidence to do the best work of their lives.”

The good news for supporters of the bill, of course, is that the weight of one of America’s largest companies should certainly apply pressure on legislators as they consider the bill.

“We urge senators to support the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and we challenge the House of Representatives to bring it to the floor for a vote,” Cook wrote. “Protections that promote equality and diversity should not be conditional on someone’s sexual orientation. For too long, too many people have had to hide that part of their identity in the workplace.”

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 15 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.