by Look what #applepride will passing out!!! #sfpride pic.twitter.com/Y8GSgPpBfn
— jackee chang (@jackeechang) June 29, 2014
Every June, San Francisco plays host to a huge celebration that spans then entire world. The yearly Pride Festival takes place in major cities in the U.S. as well as France, Spain, Mexico, and other international locations. The San Francisco Pride Celebration boasts the largest gathering of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
This year, Apple, along with Facebook and Google, joined the festivities in support of gay pride and human rights equality. Apple employees attended en masse donning the company’s iconic logo with the universally known gay pride rainbow colors. Apple employees handed out playing card style certificates with a promo code for one free song on iTunes. The card, also sporting the rainbow Apple logo, simply reads, “Pride.” Recipients can use the card to add one dollar to their iTunes account and choose one song (or app) of their choice.
Congrats to 5000 Apple employees/families who attended today’s Pride parade.Inclusion inspires innovation.#applepride pic.twitter.com/4DncX8F6fO
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 29, 2014
According to a tweet from CEO Tim Cook [via: AppleInsider], more than 5,000 Apple employees were in attendance at this year’s Pride Parade, which took place Sunday, June 29. Reuters reported that it was the largest turn out in the company’s history. Cook was also in attendance at the festival, although he did not walk in the parade alongside his co-workers.
Cook was captured on film by a number of star struck festivalgoers who were able to convince the normally private CEO to join them for a front-facing snapshot. Hopefully, they were all carrying an iPhone or iPad.
Under the care of Cook, Apple has been a vocal supporter of civil and human rights for years. The company showed its support for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. Every year, Cook auctions off an hour of his time for a charity to benefit the RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights. This past February, Apple stood with a number of major corporations that urged Arizona governor Jan Brewer to veto a bill that would allow companies to use religious beliefs to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
It is no surprise that Apple participated in this year’s Pride Parade in San Francisco. When major companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook show support of equality and civil rights for all human beings, it is a reminder that the world is changing and popular sentiment is shifting away from discrimination based on a person’s sexual identity and toward a more open and accepting mentality.
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