Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

Apple CEO Tim Cook gives 'substantial' sum to gay rights initiative

Last updated

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who recently decided to publicly announce he is "proud to be gay," has made a "substantial" donation to a cause promoting gay rights in the U.S. South, including his home state of Alabama.

Activists said Cook made a hefty private donation to the Human Rights Campaign's Project One America, an initiative working toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas, reports Reuters.

"When Tim first learned about HRC's Project One America - our bold, comprehensive campaign to dramatically advance equality for LGBT Americans in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi - he said, 'I'm in,'" according to an HRC blog post.

Cook came out as gay in an essay published by Bloomberg in October, just days after calling for LGBT rights in his native Alabama.

"We hope Tim Cook's substantial personal investment inspires others to support this vital and historic project," said HRC spokesman Jason Rahlan.

According to HRC, Project One America is taking aim at the three U.S. states because they lack non-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals and are among 15 states with bans on same-sex marriage. With backing from its 1.5 million members and a three-year budget of $8.5 million, the group plans to deliver television advertisements, send out mailers and conduct community outreach programs in 2015.



92 Comments

syrran 10 Years · 42 comments

Doing this publicly is a great way to spur sales in the Arab/Islamic countries. Maybe this is something he should be doing in the background now, and more publicly when he retires. 

solipsismy 10 Years · 5099 comments

I give a substantial amount to big breasted strippers yet I don't see anyone writing articles about me¡

benjamin frost 11 Years · 7198 comments

I wish Cook would spend some dough on fixing iOS, rather than wasting it on some useless, liberal frippery. I guess he needs to keep the attention away from Apple's water treading. MEMO TO COOK: FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND GO INTO POLITICS. DON'T MAKE APPLE SUFFER ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR CAUSE CÉLÈBRE.

flaneur 14 Years · 4525 comments

[quote name="Benjamin Frost" url="/t/183979/apple-ceo-tim-cook-gives-substantial-sum-to-gay-rights-initiative#post_2653084"]I wish Cook would spend some dough on fixing iOS, rather than wasting it on some useless, liberal frippery. I guess he needs to keep the attention away from Apple's water treading. MEMO TO COOK: FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND GO INTO POLITICS. DON'T MAKE APPLE SUFFER ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR CAUSE CÉLÈBRE.[/quote] First line of second paragraph: "private donation." Then maybe you can take it from there,

anantksundaram 18 Years · 20391 comments

[quote name="Benjamin Frost" url="/t/183979/apple-ceo-tim-cook-gives-substantial-sum-to-gay-rights-initiative#post_2653084"]I wish Cook would spend some dough on fixing iOS, rather than wasting it on some useless, liberal frippery. I guess he needs to keep the attention away from Apple's water treading. MEMO TO COOK: FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND GO INTO POLITICS. DON'T MAKE APPLE SUFFER ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR CAUSE CÉLÈBRE.[/quote] Quit it. What he does with HIS money is none of your damn business.