In Bloomberg Businessweek today, Apple CEO Tim Cook made his first public acknowledgement that he is, in fact, a proud member of the LGBT community.

It's something that's been hinted at and speculated on for several years now, but today marked the first time Cook has specifically addressed it.

And what a confirmation.

Reading his essay this morning, I was struck by how moving it is. Cook doesn't tread much in terms of new ground, but the confidence, humility, and dignity in his words make it all the more effective.

Public figures coming out is a great thing, a way to help people understand just how normal and non-threatening gay people are. Although it's a shame that in 2014 anyone coming out can still be classified as a big deal, I think it's wonderful that the leader of one of the world's biggest, most successful and innovative companies, a man from small beginnings in Alabama, put this detail about himself out into the world.

Apple under Tim Cook has made (and continues to make) big pushes in so many important areas that go beyond phones and tablets, computers and gadgets. Areas like the environment, sustainability, human equality, and more. Some of this has marketing and PR value, sure, but it really feels like it stems from an honest desire to be better, to do better. To drive progress forward.

Cook ends his piece with an image. "We pave the sunlit path toward justice together," he writes, "brick by brick. This is my brick."

Beautiful.