The world was reminded of how much gays are discriminated against after Apple CEO Tim Cook came out publically for the first time in a Businessweek article yesterday. 

"What could he bring us? The Ebola virus, AIDS, gonorrhea? They all have unseemly ties over there," St. Petersburg city council member Vitaly Milonov told FlashNord yesterday after Cook's announcement. "Ban him for life." 

Responses such as Milonov's is the very reason Cook decided to formally announce his sexual orientation to the public. 

"Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation," Cook wrote yesterday. "I don't consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I've benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it's worth the trade-off with my own privacy."

Cook is the highest-profile CEO to ever come out openly as gay, according to USA Today. 

While Cook recognizes that gays are part of a minority group that is still discriminated against today - as the Russian politician made clear with his remarks - Cook said he is proud to be gay.

"So let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me," the Apple CEO wrote.