Here is a rephrased version of the article, keeping its core message intact while offering a more streamlined and refined tone:

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The last time I encountered Apple CEO Tim Cook, I was shouting, “Queer kids need you!” while holding placards demanding he halt the sale of unsafe phones to minors. Representing the Heat Initiative — a nonprofit focused on safeguarding children online — my colleagues and I sought to appeal to Cook’s sense of compassion. As the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 firm, I had once believed he would pave the way for LGBTQ+ youth. However, it now feels as if he stepped through the door of opportunity, only to close it behind him, aligning with the tech elite and distancing himself from the communities he used to advocate for.

The entrenched connection between Big Tech and political influence became starkly evident during Donald Trump’s inauguration, where prominent figures such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg expressed unwavering support. Nevertheless, it was Cook’s $1 million contribution to the occasion that truly astounded me. Until that point, I had approached his leadership at Apple with cautious optimism. I wished the company’s shortcomings in protecting children on its platforms were merely unfortunate oversights rather than indicative of deeper values. Yet now, it is evident: Cook’s actions are not merely blemishes on Apple’s record — they actively undermine its reputation.

Trump’s tariffs have taken center stage, and while I initially hoped they might foster positive outcomes, such as boosting U.S. manufacturing, the situation has proven far more tumultuous. These policies have adversely affected working-class Americans and disrupted companies like Apple, whose stock price has experienced extreme volatility in response. For a fleeting moment, it appeared that even the powerful were not shielded from the fallout of misguided policy — a rare instance of accountability for a company that has inadequately protected vulnerable groups, including children and LGBTQ+ users, from online threats.

However, that moment was short-lived. Smartphones were soon temporarily exempted from the tariffs, highlighting how easily political favors can be obtained. This exemption was positioned as a safeguard for consumer access, yet it conveniently served to bolster Apple’s profits. Cook’s $1 million donation appeared to yield returns — until Trump rescinded the exemption, plunging Apple’s future back into uncertainty. Perhaps the donation wasn’t sufficient. Or perhaps, just perhaps, doing what is right is ultimately more beneficial for business.

This past weekend, Auburn University — Cook’s alma mater — hosted an alumni celebration. We were present too, flying a parody blimp depicting Cook with money bags and a phone labeled “profits over kids.” On campus, we engaged with an engineer enthusiastic about hash-matching technology for detecting child sexual abuse material, a family regretting giving their daughter a phone at too young an age, and students wrestling with iPhone addiction. These discussions brought home what is truly at stake.

I long for the days when Apple’s innovations sparked excitement and optimism. Maybe, after witnessing the transactional nature of politics, Tim Cook will reflect and reconnect with the values we once thought he embodied.

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Lennon Torres is a Public Voices Fellow on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse with The OpEd Project. A lifelong LGBTQ+ advocate and former child television personality, Lennon now focuses on online child safety at the Heat Initiative. Connect with her on LinkedIn.