His move has given courage to untold numbers of LGBT youth, including your humble author. Being gay doesn’t change Tim Cook. It doesn’t alter or diminish his accomplishments, hopes, dreams or fears. Nor does it mine. Everyone should be comfortable sharing their voice and one-of-a-kind perspective. Our experiences shape us into the people we are, and when we feel forced to hide such a substantial part of who we are, there is no way we can become fully self-actualized individuals.

The real news is not Tim Cook’s homosexuality. What is newsworthy is his utilization of his status as the only openly gay Fortune 500 CEO. On Monday, Cook was in Montgomery for his induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor where he rightfully criticized our home state for lagging behind in the race toward equality, asserting, “as a state, we took too long to take steps toward equality. We were too slow on equality for African-Americans. We were too slow on interracial marriage. And we are still too slow on equality for the LGBT community.” These comments angered many who criticized Cook for “swooping in” to “lecture” the state he left, but as a gay Alabamian he has every right, and I would argue duty, to speak out against the nagging issue of inequality within our state.

Tim is from rural, Deep South Alabama, much like myself, which makes his announcement even more substantial. We would do well to remember that while Alabama has made some strides towards equality, most of this progress is nestled safely in the realm of higher education and the Birmingham metro area. Places like Robertsdale and Selma, the hometowns of Cook and myself respectively, are leaps and bounds behind these bastions of (slightly more) progressive thought. When society is allowed to fester into such homogenous stifling environments, it is immeasurably difficult to accept yourself and nearly impossible to proclaim your sexuality to the world.

This is why it is imperative for members of the LGBT community from rural enclaves and strongholds of hate to speak up and educate others on what it means to be gay. Unfortunately, due to the naïve intolerance of these areas, this is easier said than done. A cursory read of comments on Yellowhammer.com including such language as “moral depravity” and “We don’t need the Liberal ones, let ‘em stay elsewhere” shows just how far we have to go. Tolerance is a burden we all share, and the responsibility to foster inclusivity belongs to every individual in a community. So, I leave with two maxims I learned as a member of the Blackburn Institute. “What have you done today?” to promote equality, and please get out there and “Change the Damn State!” Your unborn gay children could be depending on you.

Landon Nichols is a graduate student majoring in public administration.