Apple Inc Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, in a rare public speech, called on new college graduates to fight for what they believe in and said his journey of self discovery led to his view that equality is a right.
"The sidelines are not where you want to live your life," Cook told a crowd of more than 25,000 people at George Washington University's graduation ceremony on Sunday.
"The world needs you in the arena. There are problems that need to be solved, injustices that need to be ended, people who are still being persecuted, diseases still in need of a cure."
Sunday's speech comes just weeks before the US Supreme court is set to rule on a historic case that may legalise same-sex marriages in the US.
"The sidelines are not where you want to live your life," Cook told a crowd of more than 25,000 people at George Washington University's graduation ceremony on Sunday.
"The world needs you in the arena. There are problems that need to be solved, injustices that need to be ended, people who are still being persecuted, diseases still in need of a cure."
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The remarks in Washington are part of a broader trend toward social activism in corporate America. Cook joined other Silicon Valley leaders in March to criticise Indiana for enacting a law that they said targeted the gay community.
Sunday's speech comes just weeks before the US Supreme court is set to rule on a historic case that may legalise same-sex marriages in the US.