During today's
San Francisco Pride Parade, some 5,000 Apple employees -- dressed in white t-shirts with a modern twist on the six-color classic Apple logo -- marched alongside CEO Tim Cook and Environmental Director
Lisa Jackson in the iPhone maker's first public participation in the event. Employees handed out special "one free song" iTunes cards, and the company featured event-friendly apps on its App Store, such as Find My Friends. Apple also set up an LGBT Pride station on iTunes Radio for the day.
A new twist on an old logo for the Pride Parade
Cook can be seen posing with Apple fans and employees in
many Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social media pictures. Jackson, formerly head of the EPA, was one of those holding the company's banner in the front line of the march. An official Apple spokesperson says that "Apple believes equality and diversity make us stronger, and we're proud to support our employees and their friends and families in this weekend's celebration."
The company has become increasingly visible in fighting for civil rights and equal-protection rights for employees since well before Cook became CEO of the company. He has spoken out frequently, however, against discrimination on several levels -- including based on race or ethnicity as well as sexual orientation. In a speech given at an Auburn University function honoring him, the very private Cook
unusually opened up about his youth growing up in the deep south and first-hand accounts of discrimination and racism.
The company was early to the trend of extending benefits to same-sex partners, also
donating money and
"Proposition 8" campaign, which was later found to be
unconstitutional. Other tech companies, including Google and Facebook, also had notable presences at the event.
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