Tim Cook is Proud to be Gay →

Tim Cook:

I’ll admit that this wasn’t an easy choice. Privacy remains important to me, and I’d like to hold on to a small amount of it. I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be. That’s what our employees deserve—and our customers, developers, shareholders, and supplier partners deserve it, too. Part of social progress is understanding that a person is not defined only by one’s sexuality, race, or gender. I’m an engineer, an uncle, a nature lover, a fitness nut, a son of the South, a sports fanatic, and many other things. I hope that people will respect my desire to focus on the things I’m best suited for and the work that brings me joy.

Beware of anyone who responds to this, not new news, but still important news with phrases like who cares? and stick to selling phones! and why is this important? That’s the shorthand that people use when they see the arc of history bending away from them, and they are terrified at the prospect of being left behind. If you can’t see/understand why having an openly gay CEO of one of the largest companies in the history of the world is an important revelation, then you’re just willfully ignorant.

Retired NFL Receiver Destroys Argument Against Gay Players →

Melissa Jeltsen, writing for The Huffington Post:

Former NFL player Donte' Stallworth doesn't buy the argument that an openly gay player would be too distracting for an NFL team to be successful.

In a series of tweets, the retired wide receiver responded to the suggestion -- floated by former NFL coach Herm Edwards -- that intense media attention may discourage teams from drafting gay players.

"Can the players handle the media attention they are going to get when they get the question asked, 'Are you okay with a gay teammate?'" Edwards asked in an ESPN interview Sunday night.

Stallworth, who last played for the New England Patriots, didn't mince words. If a team can't handle the media scrutiny of drafting a gay player, he wrote, "Your team is already a loser on the field."

What’s funny is that they’re both right—Stallworth’s theory is 100% accurate, but so is Edwards’. Both can and will come true.