Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, has never discussed his sexual orientation until now stating that he is proudly gay.

Its saddening and bewildered that homophobia and anti-gay sentiments still exist in our world but its encouraging by how far we have come.

About 30 years ago, gay jokes were perfectly acceptable in the workplace and comedy (go watch Eddie Murphy from the 80s) and anti-gay violence was more prominent. Gay individuals and couples felt comfortable in far less locations and would convene on more “gay friendly” areas of major cities being shunned or outright in danger in certain places.

A few years before this we had “homosexuality” essentially outlawed and rampant beatings and civil rights abuses which led to the Stonewall riots, an amazing day when the gays of New York fought back against the abuses of the NYPD and refused to live in the shadows.

It’s great that more people feel comfortable with saying who they are. Tim Cook is brave but just a few decades ago he would have had to hide who he is. Today there are still many people living in shadows and closets: friends, loved ones, relatives. In places like the Middle East, where I often travel I know of gay people who feel they must hide their identity – some of the anti-gay or indifferent people who support the status quo do not even realize that while they may criticize the increased openness of gay people in the West, their own brother or good friend could be a victim of a system which causes him or her to feel the need to hide their identity.

The worst form of anti-gay behavior comes when physical violence or force or threats are used such as we’ve seen in Nigeria. No human has the right to harm another who has not done harm or threat first. It’s one thing for people to peacefully engage with gay people but it’s another thing to support violence. A big tough redneck I knew once said it perfectly “Ain’t no gay ever hurt me, what business is it of mine to tell them what to do.”

This non aggression principle is a cornerstone of the Libertarian Party who, unsurprisingly, nominated an openly gay Presidential candidate in 1972 a solid two decades before the major parties were debating gay rights such as “don’t ask don’t tell”.

By the same token, no person, including gay people, has the right to use force on another to make them accept them or engage with them. Human interaction should be voluntary. Of a church doesn’t want to marry or even admit gay people or a cake baker doesn’t want to bake them a cake, we have no right to force that group to comply. For one thing this creates more animosity and discrimination and, more importantly, it also violates the non-aggression principle. Court orders requiring businesses or people to serve or otherwise interact with others are….at the end of the day…enforced by violence and threats.

Ultimately, we should live and let live. No one should force another’s believes or lifestyle on another nor should they prevent another from finding love and happiness where they can. As more people like Tim Cook come forward we end up with more acceptance.