Watch: Apple CEO Tim Cook gives rousing speech on equal rights

Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned that there’s no room for complacency in the fight for LGBT equality in the US.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign in Washington DC last night (October 3), he criticised the fact that so many states are without adequate laws in place.

“Thirty-one states, more than half the stars on our American flag, have no laws to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination,” he said.

“Discrimination doesn’t simply fade. It has to be pushed back, challenged, overcome and then kept at bay.”

On his own fight against religious freedom laws that allow businesses to refuse services to the LGBT community, he said: “Sometimes, you just have to be loud because people need to hear that being gay is not a limitation.

“People need to hear that you can be gay or transgender and be whatever else you want to in life – a CEO or a senator, an Olympic athlete, an award-winning actor or actress.

“We all have a role. Apple will continue to play our role by remaining open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love.”

The HRC was honouring him for using his status to promote the importance of equal rights.

Watch below.