Which I think is actually bigger than the football player. Because the average person in that locker room is in his 20s. And it’s just not a big deal to be around a gay guy — if you’re in your 20s. Whereas Tim Cook is around these corporate guys. That is the epitome of a boys’ club. That is sexist, racist — the least inclusive group of people you’re ever going to find. Men who have no problem being called owners. Who actually wants to be called an owner, even if you owned a football team? Just the title owner is just so nasty and disgusting…So Tim Cook came out to those guys. He’s in that club. My God.”
— Chris Rock discussing Apple CEO Tim Cook, gay rights and other issues in an interview with Vulture
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I half agree with Rock. While Cook’s coming out certainly has more worldwide and actual impact on the world mainly because his coming out had zero impact on Apple’s status, revenue, nor standings.
Sam’s had a impact on the world because it lessened the stereotype to the older non accepting people who saw that we are not all limp wristed cabaret singing rainbow sprouting sissies (not that there’s anything wrong with that :p)
Trippy
Cook’s orientation was a “well-known” secret within his company and the business world. I doubt it was much of a shock to most of his peers. Sam, on the other hand, was the first open and proud gay man trying to earn his way into the NFL, which has more than its share of raging homophobes. When I heard about Sam, my first thought was “oh, hear we go. Countdown to the first of many articles about showers, locker rooms, and nakedness.” It took all of about a week before the first article appeared detailing how “threatened” some NFL players would feel about being forced to shower with the likes of an honest-to-god homosexual OH MY!
Thus, edge to Sam. He was far far braver.
petensfo
I love that we’re hearing more from Rock in his movie promotion tour. He was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning and was asked what question he would put to police in the aftermath of Ferguson. He answered, I wouldn’t ask why you’re killing so many black kids… but how come you’re never killing any white kids?
A comedian that makes you think is the greatest gift.
mgad
Yeah I have to disagree. Football culture still has a lot of homophobia built in even though age is a mitigating factor. The upperclass however has gotten way more comfortable with gay people and it is in the vogue in many places. Let’s keep in mind that Cook is the CEO of a tech company in CA and not some industry in the South. Furthermore Cook now has the ability to tell people who hate him to suck it and just enjoy his wealth. Sam doesn’t have as many exit plans (not to say he doesn’t have options… just not as many) as someone as rich and with as much experience as Cook does.
Milk
I think he miss some crucial elements here. Wealth and power. Social status especially in America while may not immune or reverse the discrimination by the bigots. It does allow many them to overlook or tolerate someone like Tim Cook. There lies the hypocrisy of those who discriminate.
MarionPaige
Again, there is this persistent effort to declare The Out Movement to be some kind of “given” that every gay person should subscribe to. OUT was / is a failed marketing strategy created to sell gay magazines and subscriptions to gay media. It has zero impact on the lives of the average gay person because the average gay person doesn’t publicly declare his sexual preference.
Michael Sam’s “coming out” was a scripted filmed event designed to benefit Michael Sam. Sam is on record now stating that his coming out was an attempt to get ahead of gossip that he felt would eventually be published about him being gay. No one can now provide a believable argument that “coming out” benefited Sam – clearly, it did not. AND, SAM probably serves as proof to gay football players that coming out is in fact a career killer.
Tim Cook coming out probably is another marketing strategy designed to “humanize” Apple’s corporate policies, corporate policies which, under Jobs, were decidely Anti-American Labor, Anti-free market and Anti-EEO (in that Apple, like most tech companies have few Blacks and Women). Apple entered into DEALS with other tech companies to try to prevent workers from easily “migrating” from one tech company to another. Apple also trying to create a CARTEL with book publishers to artificially infalte the price of e-books above the price that Amazon had effectively established.
The propaganda that everyone gay is expected to publicly announce their sexual preference to family and co-workers has probably hurt more gay people than it has helped. IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT, that The State REQUIRED men having sex with men publish (alert the community) via classified ads that they are having sex with men. IMAGINE IF THE STATE MAINTAINED PUBLIC LISTs OF PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS.
domestic partner registries, civil union registries and gay marriages are all PUBLIC LISTS THE STATE MAINTAINs on who is gay. If you were a potential employer in CA, you could have called the CA SOS and asked if a candidate for employment was a registered domestic partner (and that candidate would pretty much have never known that this had happened).
1EqualityUSA
MarionPaige, You are blinded by rage. Categorize your world away if it makes you feel safer. Not every person is a conglomerate tsunami wave to be touted as part of a grand conspiracy. Sometimes a person is just a person. Some are merely living life and being true to themselves. If you want to land on it and spin webs around it and suck it dry of life, that’s your prerogative, but don’t expect tag-alongs on your twisted, rage-filled journey. Boundaries, babe.
vive
Let’s see. The white male corporate predatory capitalist now gets sainted because he’s gay? Sell that to the laborers driven to suicide in Apple’s offshore sweatshops, or to the American taxpayers Apple is cheating.
Trippy
Can we all agree to ignore Marion/BJMcFrisky? In doing so, maybe he’ll finally go away and start hanging out on the National Org for Marriage site. They’re more his type.
MarionPaige
Germany no doubt would have been in favor of an Out Movement prior to WWII. And, Cuba probably favored an Out Movement when it was locking up homosexuals as part of it Aids prevention initiative.
Making it “fashionable” for gay people to voluntarily walk round with pink triangles on their shirts is something a true propaganda artists has to admire.
1EqualityUSA
“Making it “fashionable” for gay people to voluntarily walk round with pink triangles on their shirts is something a true propaganda artists has to admire.”
I would rather die in the light than in the dark.
Alan down in Florida
While I applaud Michael Sam’s bravery and believe he got a raw deal from the NFL, I wonder how much damage his being dropped by two different teams has done. What’s happened is that the NFL is sending a very clear message – “No Queers Wanted Here.” What will the next openly gay player to try for the NFL be put through since the perception is now that a gay player is neither good enough or tough enough to play with the big dawgs?
Trippy
@Alan down in Florida: That’s true. The message was very loud and very clear. Sadly, there are probably 40 or so gay players on active rosters (and that doesn’t include the DL bi types), and they have straight teammates who know it and don’t care. The message is “if you’re gay, shut up about it.” It’s a sad commentary on the mindset of those who run, coach, or play in the NFL.
Ironically, the NFL has cleared Ray Rice for play. Odds are he’ll get picked up for next season. Message: No gays allowed, but wife abusers and dog torturers are A-OK with us.
Bob LaBlah
I still think it was a mistake for Sam to come out before he signed a contract. Get the money first, then tell them to go get fucked if they don’t like where and with whom you sleep.
As far as Cook goes if he is ousted as chairman the first thing that will be said is “that’s what happens when fags become bosses” and a strait guy takes the helm to guide it back to profits. So far, so good. But hey, what has Apple really come out with lately, other than another near useless update of the I-phone. People do get bored and move on. Apple is no exception and they know it.
I know that sounds like “back in the closet” but I am here to tell you; it is best to have too much cash on hand as you mature than not enough. The amounts of money professional athletes make to me justifies shutting the fuck up about who’s on top or bottom. I am retired now and have a comfortable income (and also moved back home to the midwest) but many of you (especially if you live in NYC or California) are never going to be able to retire because the cost of living will not allow you to.
connorlarkin19
@petensfo: NOTES from an Obama Voter: 89 blacks killed by cops while recently in Ft. Worth cop killed a unarmed non-threatening white homeless man recorded on video. the same happens every day, only not reported. See Memphis ,TN where white women are raped and murdered by black-majority cops and Judicial system.
”
7/18- Terry Taylor, white male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/17- Cindy Raygoza, white female murdered by black male. No national news.
7/11- Luis Aguilar, 91 year old hispanic male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/10- Brittany Simpson, white female murdered by black male. No national news.
7/6- Sarah Goode, white female murdered by black male. No national news.
7/6- Jeffrey Westerfield, white male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/5- Perry Renn, white male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/3- Laurey Kennedy, white female still in coma from beating by black male. No national news
7/3 Eric Mollet, white male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/2 Rupert Anderson, white male murdered by black male. No national news.
7/2 Jennifer Kingeter, white female murdered by black male. No national news.
6/30 Jim Brennan, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/29 Paul Shephard, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/27 Shirley Barone, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/27 Penelope Spencer, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/27 Inga Evans, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/26 Jake Rameau, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/25 Gina Burger, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/24 Nathan Dasher, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/22 Jonathan Price, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/20 John Whitmore, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/18 John Yingling,white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/17 Allyn Reeves, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/15 Michael Beaver, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/11 Angela Cook, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/11 Nathan Hall, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/7 Harry Briggs, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/5 Laura Bachman, white female, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/2 Robert Mohler, white male, murdered by black male. No national news.
6/1 William Headley, white male, murdered by black male. No national news”.