WASHINGTON: Apple’s Tim Cook on Thursday became the most prominent chief executive to acknowledge his homosexuality, putting fresh focus on gay representation in the boardroom.

Cook’s announcement, in an essay written for Bloomberg Businessweek, is a watershed since he is the first CEO of a major US corporation to make such a declaration.

“I think the result is that it will make gay culture more mainstream,” said Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a consultant and analyst who follows the tech sector.

“It does encourage other people in important positions to let go and come out. “According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, there were no openly gay CEOs of Fortune 500 companies as of July 2014.

British-based BP’s top executive John Browne acknowledged he was gay after he was forced to leave office in 2007 following reports that he paid a male escort.

American gay men and women have won acceptance in increasingly prominent roles in entertainment, sports and politics, but very few openly acknowledge their orientation in the corporate world.

Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign, which lobbies on behalf of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, said Cook’s news marks a major step forward.

“Tim Cook’s announcement today will save countless lives,” Griffin said in a statement.

“He has always been a role model, but today millions across the globe will draw inspiration from a different aspect of his life. Tim Cook is proof that LGBT young people can dream as big as their minds will allow them to, whether they want to be doctors, a US senator, or even CEO of the world’s biggest brand.—AFP

“A December 2013 report by Deloitte on corporate inclusion found 83 per cent of gay employees kept their sexual orientation private because of fear of discrimination.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014