Meet Apple's New Boss, The Most Powerful Gay Man in Silicon Valley

Gawker.com ^ | Jan 20, 2011 | Ryan Tate

[Leroy S. Mort]

It looks increasingly like Steve Jobs' reign at Apple is over. If the CEO doesn't return from his third, indefinite medical leave, COO Tim Cook will succeed him, marking a new era not only for Apple but for gay progress.

(snip)

Cook, a famously quiet and collected person, will find his backstory, both personal and professional, the topic of increasing interest and discussion in the tech community. That new attention is a good thing for a man with a reputation as fearsomely good as Cook's. Cook's rise to his position—he is one of the most powerful corporate executives in the world, to say nothing of being the most powerful gay person in tech by a mile—is also a tribute to his skill and work ethic on the one hand, and to the utterly unconventional and unconventionally empowering people skills of Jobs on the other.

[Leroy S. Mort]

One tech executive who has spoken to multiple Apple management veterans about Cook was told executives there would support Cook if he publicly acknowledged his orientation, and even would encourage him to do so as he steps up his leadership role, but that they also had concerns about whether his coming out would impact the perception of the Apple brand.

Okay. I don't care who you are. That's funny right there.

[Leo Farnsworth]

Our ‘conservative’ Apple ping list FReepers will LOVE this dude.

He's ‘APPLE.’

Go APPLE!

Applesauce is dangerous for the mind...

(Don't trust dentists)...

[kbennkc]

Rush is gonna have a shiite fit.

[SgtHooper]

Let’s get the fruit right. He’s a peach!

[montag813]

Aren’t all uber-geeks basically gay anyway? Or at least asexual.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Golly jee fellas! Sorta sends a whole new meaning about “Virus” protection!........(swish, swish)

[Uncle Miltie]

[gov_bean_ counter]

Golly jee fellas! Sorta sends a whole new meaning about “Virus” protection!........(swish, swish)

I'm expecting a lot more plug-ins...

[Yo-Yo]

Rush is gonna have a shiite fit.

You mean the same Rush that had Elton John play at his (most recent) wedding?

[SueRae]

I could care less what his orientation is/was. Can he run the company? Can he lead the development of new products? Can he manage the finances? If I was a shareholder or employee, that’s all I would be concerned about.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Fabulous!.....

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Let’s get the fruit right. He’s a peach!

Just a bit of trivia. One of Apple's early competitors was the Franklin Peach. ;-)

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

True!

As well as a few “gadgets” that vibrate!

[Nervous Tick]

[abner]

I read the article and it looks like the man hasn’t ever admitted to being gay.

[kbennkc]

(Is the /sarc tag really necessary)
Yep.

[Grut]

Gay, shmay; if the guy can do the job, let him do it.

[halfright]

>>Gay, shmay; if the guy can do the job, let him do it.

I doubt Jim Rob would agree....

[Leroy S. Mort]

Seems like that’s the gist of the article.

[Yo-Yo]

Elton John Sings at Rush Limbaugh's 4th Wedding

Talk about an odd couple: conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and outspoken gay civil-union advocate Elton John.

But, according to a News Corporation (which owns Fox News) wire report, the Rocket Man, 63, serenaded the 400 guests into the wee hours Saturday night to celebrate the marriage of Limbaugh, 59, to Kathryn Rogers, 33, in the Ponce de Leon ballroom of Florida's fabled Breakers hotel in Palm Beach. Sir Elton's fee: $1 million, the report notes.

No sarc tag on this one...