Cook said he had tried to keep his private life out of the public spotlight, but thought coming out would help people struggling with their own identity. 'Let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,' he wrote in October. Seattle-based Amazon ( AMZN) also released an ad spot that features a gay man buying a Kindle e-reader.Īpple: Tim Cook, the CEO of one of the world's most important tech companies, went public with his sexuality last year. Here is a rundown of how some prominent companies and brands have addressed LGBT issues - ranging from political and personal actions by high-profile CEOs to product advertising to workplace policies.Īmazon: CEO Jeff Bezos has voted with his wallet: His 2012 donation of $2.5 million to a same sex organization in Washington state was believed to be the largest such donation at the time. This ad featuring two men is a first for Tiffany.
It even produces a shopping guide for consumers looking to support companies that take a stand. New to the list last year was Facebook ( FB), Tesla ( TSLA) and Yelp ( YELP). Last year, HRC gave 365 companies, including 150 on the Fortune 500 list, top honors in its annual assessment of corporate America.
