Like many corporations in Silicon Valley, Apple claims to be supportive of the LGBQT community. Even more than most as Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is openly gay and the senior vice president of retail and former head of People (i.e human resources), Deirdre O’Brien, is also a member of the community. Every Pride month the company proudly claims “support” of the LGBQT community, it sells rainbow bands for Apple watches in its stores and claims to provide same-sex benefits to its employees. But as a former employee and his partner recently found out, that support only goes so far.
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In the latest, Scott talks with comrade Robby Diesu (@robbythequeen) about their, and their partner’s, experience with Apple while working for the company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They discuss how Apple revoked benefits when Robby’s partner demanded the same treatment as heterosexual couples, and forced their partner out of the company.
Bio// Robby Diesu is a long-time organizer who worked with various social movements. They currently live in Milan, Italy with their husband awaiting US immigration approval of their K1 visa. Their husband worked for Apple for 11 years until they were forced out for asking to receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples this past year. Green and Red is withholding his name out of fear of reprisals by the company.
