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| Why is Apple's Tim Cook the only openly gay CEO of a major US firm? | |
| (1 day later) | |
| It's pretty startling that among the chief executives of the 500 biggest US companies only one, Tim Cook of Apple, is openly gay. | It's pretty startling that among the chief executives of the 500 biggest US companies only one, Tim Cook of Apple, is openly gay. |
| His declaration this week that he is "proud to be gay" was hailed as an important moment for the gay community. | His declaration this week that he is "proud to be gay" was hailed as an important moment for the gay community. |
| Campaigners say they know of bosses of other big firms who are gay, but are reluctant to be open about it. | Campaigners say they know of bosses of other big firms who are gay, but are reluctant to be open about it. |
| They hope Mr Cook's public acknowledgement will spur them to come out. | They hope Mr Cook's public acknowledgement will spur them to come out. |
| So what is holding them back? | So what is holding them back? |
| Changing times | Changing times |
| "When I was at university, people who did gay things, homosexual acts, usually went to prison and stayed there a long time," Lord Browne said in an interview with the BBC earlier this year. | "When I was at university, people who did gay things, homosexual acts, usually went to prison and stayed there a long time," Lord Browne said in an interview with the BBC earlier this year. |
| He resigned as chief executive of BP in 2007 after it emerged that statements he had made in legal documents about a four-year relationship he'd had with a man had been "untruthful". | |
| Like Lord Browne, many chief executives would have grown up in times that were much less tolerant of gay people. | Like Lord Browne, many chief executives would have grown up in times that were much less tolerant of gay people. |
| Campaigners says that formative experience has probably made senior executives reluctant to come forward. | Campaigners says that formative experience has probably made senior executives reluctant to come forward. |
| "Societal views have changed considerably, but that has only really been in the past 10 years," says Suki Sandhu, founder of professional network Outstanding. | "Societal views have changed considerably, but that has only really been in the past 10 years," says Suki Sandhu, founder of professional network Outstanding. |
| Gay people now in their 50s and 60s could have been keeping their sexuality a secret from colleagues for years, perhaps decades. That lengthy secrecy is another reason to maintain their silence. | Gay people now in their 50s and 60s could have been keeping their sexuality a secret from colleagues for years, perhaps decades. That lengthy secrecy is another reason to maintain their silence. |
| "Some of our best leaders are known for their honesty and authenticity, to kind of then turn around and go, 'Actually, there's a big thing that I haven't quite mentioned', is quite difficult," says Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality organisation. | "Some of our best leaders are known for their honesty and authenticity, to kind of then turn around and go, 'Actually, there's a big thing that I haven't quite mentioned', is quite difficult," says Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality organisation. |
| Private v public | Private v public |
| Most business people are "squeamish" about speaking about their personal lives, says Jan Gooding, group brand director of insurance giant Aviva and chair of Stonewall. | Most business people are "squeamish" about speaking about their personal lives, says Jan Gooding, group brand director of insurance giant Aviva and chair of Stonewall. |
| They would rather be known for their work as professionals than for their sexual orientation, she says. | They would rather be known for their work as professionals than for their sexual orientation, she says. |
| But chief executives are now under pressure to reveal more about their personal lives. | |
| "When I came out, it became clear that my life was public property and I think that when you are a leader of a large organisation, that is the case nowadays - you have to leave your privacy to one side," said Lord Browne. | |
| Executives who do come out can expect to be a role model for younger gay staff, which can be an added pressure. | Executives who do come out can expect to be a role model for younger gay staff, which can be an added pressure. |
| "Once you come out, you are expected to suddenly be an expert on all things gay, but of course you are an expert on your job - not all things gay," says Ms Hunt. | "Once you come out, you are expected to suddenly be an expert on all things gay, but of course you are an expert on your job - not all things gay," says Ms Hunt. |
| Commercial concerns | Commercial concerns |
| Chief executives could have another concern. Could coming out damage their business prospects? | Chief executives could have another concern. Could coming out damage their business prospects? |
| The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association lists 78 countries with criminal laws against sexual activity by the groups it represents. | The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association lists 78 countries with criminal laws against sexual activity by the groups it represents. |
| Many of those countries are in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. | Many of those countries are in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. |
| Those regions are growing fast and are where ambitious companies would be eager to expand. | Those regions are growing fast and are where ambitious companies would be eager to expand. |
| Sukhi Sandhu of Outstanding thinks having a gay chief executive "could impact sales" in those countries. But that remains to be seen, as there is no data to support the theory. | |
| After Tim Cook's announcement, we might find out over the next few years whether customers might consider the sexuality of a chief executive when choosing a mobile phone. | After Tim Cook's announcement, we might find out over the next few years whether customers might consider the sexuality of a chief executive when choosing a mobile phone. |
| Career prospects | Career prospects |
| So what about gay people trying to work their way through the ranks in the current era? | So what about gay people trying to work their way through the ranks in the current era? |
| Over three-quarters of America's 500 biggest companies have non-discrimination policies that bar firing someone because they are gay or lesbian, says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the US National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. | Over three-quarters of America's 500 biggest companies have non-discrimination policies that bar firing someone because they are gay or lesbian, says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the US National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. |
| But he says those policies can only go so far. | |
| "There are still times that, even when you have a policy, the guy in the cubicle next to you might have a personal belief that is not fully inclusive," he says. | |
| Some industries are working harder than others to overcome such issues. | Some industries are working harder than others to overcome such issues. |
| The UK fashion industry can boast the only openly gay chief executive among FTSE 100 companies, after Christopher Bailey became chief executive of Burberry earlier this year. | |
| Mr Sandhu says diversity is "in the DNA" of Burberry. | |
| But the fashion industry is not necessarily leading the way in encouraging gay staff. | But the fashion industry is not necessarily leading the way in encouraging gay staff. |
| Stonewall chief executive Ruth Hunt says that law firms and banks are among those that have recently made the most progress recently. | Stonewall chief executive Ruth Hunt says that law firms and banks are among those that have recently made the most progress recently. |
| The building trade is also making a big effort, she says, with construction giant Balfour Beatty working closely with Stonewall to help gay staff. | The building trade is also making a big effort, she says, with construction giant Balfour Beatty working closely with Stonewall to help gay staff. |
| Despite the efforts of campaigning groups, many young gay people still feel under pressure to hide their sexuality. | Despite the efforts of campaigning groups, many young gay people still feel under pressure to hide their sexuality. |
| "It's quite shocking to learn that even now graduates who are openly gay at university are going back into the closet because the business world is a little behind," says Mr Sandhu. | "It's quite shocking to learn that even now graduates who are openly gay at university are going back into the closet because the business world is a little behind," says Mr Sandhu. |