This comes as a direct outcome of Cook being an important HRC donor and his coming out as gay in 2014

Oct 5, 2015 11:47 GMT  ·  By

During the Human Rights Campaign dinner that took place on October 3, 2015, Tim Cook has accepted the Visibility Award for his support of the LGBT community and the HRC LGBT civil rights advocacy group.

As HRC President Chad Griffin stated, "through his example and Apple's commitment to equality, LGBT young people in particular can look to Tim Cook's incredible career and know that there is nothing holding them back," said by way of introduction."

Tim Cook first came out as gay in October 2014, in an essay that was designed as an open letter to the public and addressed to all LGBT community members, saying that "while I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

As reported by NBCNEWS, during the Human Rights Campaign Dinner, Cook has also received praises from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Chad Griffin, the President of the HRC political lobbying organization, who affirmed that Apple's CEO is a role model for people concerned about being different and not being able to integrate into today's society.

Tim Cook was honored by HRC's President and the U.S. Vice President as a role model for young LGBT community members

Moreover, according to Biden and Griffin, Tim Cook is also an example for all kids that don't believe that they can do something with their life, even though they are at times rejected by others due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

To support Joe Biden and Chad Griffin's statements, Cook himself declared that "people need to hear that being gay does not give you limitations in life."

In the past, as reported by Reuters, Tim Cook has donated to Human Rights Campaign's Project One America initiative designed to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.