Tim Cook to make 'substantial' personal donation to gay rights campaign

The Apple CEO came out in October, the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 1,000 company

Apple CEO Timothy Cook (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Tim Cook has pledged to help fund a gay rights initiative in his native Alabama and two other states.

Although the exact amount has not been disclosed, organisers said the donation was “substantial”.

The Apple CEO came out in October in a magazine column, writing that he considers being gay “among the greatest gifts God has given me”. He hoped that his story would offer “comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality”.

His money will go to Project One America, which aims to build acceptance for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people in the US. The initiative – run by the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign – was first launched in April.

“Thanks to his generous personal financial investment in the program, together we will move the needle forward at the local and state level, tearing down misperceptions and providing concrete protections for those who need it most,” said Human Rights Campaign founder Chad Griffin wrote in a blog post.

Cook said recently that Alabama still have much to achieve in achieving gay rights.

“Under the law, citizens of Alabama can still be fired based on their sexual orientation,” Cook said in October. “We can’t change the past, but we can learn from it and we can create a different future.”