December 5, 2014
Apple CEO Lends Name to Alabama's Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Apple CEO Tim Cook -- the first CEO of a Fortune 500 company to come out as gay, in October -- has lent his support and his name to an anti-gay workplace discrimination bill in his home state of Alabama.
Gay Star News reports that the state's first openly gay lawmaker, Patricia Todd, said that Cook fully supports the legislation she plans to introduce, despite Apple's initial reluctance to allow her to use Cook's name.
"Tim was honored to hear that State Rep. Todd wanted to name an anti-discrimination bill after him," said Apple in a statement. "We have a long history of support for LGBT rights and we hope every state will embrace workplace equality for all."
Although Alabama has no laws protecting gay workers from discrimination, Todd has sponsored similar legislation in the past that went nowhere. This bill is also expected to face resistance in the state legislature.
"There are gay teachers here that are terrified that someone will find out they're gay and they will be fired," Todd told CNN. "This will give them protection."
She hoped that Cook's support would help the legislation have a better chance of success.
"With his support and national support, we can at least get a public hearing," said Todd. "We need business to grow in Alabama and we need to get over this terrible reputation we have for being intolerant. This bill will help educate people that openly gay people are discriminated against and need protection."
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
