Tim Cook, the CEO of the world’s most admired and valuable brand, today told Congress it should pass ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Cook is the world’s highest-paid CEO and came in at number one last year on Out Magazine’s list of 50 most powerful gay men and women.
In a tweet he sent this afternoon to Speaker of the House John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Cook wrote: “The House should mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act by passing ENDA.”
The Senate last year passed ENDA but Speaker Boehner has said he refuses to allow the bill to go to the floor for a vote, adding that he believes LGBT people already are protected and don’t need ENDA.
HRC, which first reported on Cook’s ENDA comments today, notes that “Apple has a long history of LGBT inclusion. In 2002, Apple was one of the original 13 companies to earn a 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index.”
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The House should mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act by passing ENDA. @SpeakerBoehner @GOPLeader @NancyPelosi @WhipHoyer
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 11, 2014
In December of last year, Cook gave a speech on human rights, as reported by Valleywag, in which he said, “I have seen and have experienced many other types of discrimination and all of them were rooted in the fear of people that were different than the majority.”
//www.youtube.com/embed/dNEafGCf-kw
Cook this afternoon also posted this tweet:
“We shall overcome”. Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Much done but much left to do. pic.twitter.com/hk1IdRHZjU
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 11, 2014