Tim Cook joins backlash over Indiana gay law
Tim Cook isn’t happy with the Hoosier State and its new anti-gay law.
The openly gay Apple CEO lashed out on Twitter Friday at Indiana’s new “religious freedom restoration” law, which gives businesses the right not to serve gays and lesbians on religious grounds.
“We are deeply disappointed in Indiana’s new law,” Cook tweeted Friday, calling on the Arkansas governor to veto a similar measure in that state.
“Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love,” Cook told his Twitter followers, who number more than 1 million.
Cook, who came out last October, had blasted his home state of Alabama at the time for not better protecting gay rights.
Besides Cook, a number of corporate chieftains joined the business backlash against the law.
Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff tweeted that the software firm was “canceling all programs that require our customers/employees to travel to Indiana to face discrimination.”
Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana's new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said the reviews site “will make every effort to expand its corporate presence only in states that do not have these laws allowing for discrimination on the books.”
Other groups that raised concerns about the new law include drug giant Eli Lilly, the NCAA and the Gen Con video-game convention, which brought 56,000 people to Indiana last year.
“In our eyes, the law is entirely unnecessary,” the Indiana Chamber of Commerce said. “Passing the law was always going to bring the state unwanted attention.”
The law was signed Thursday by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who called it a victory for “religious liberty.”