Conservative lobbyist fired by gay-friendly Apple Inc.

WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) -- Last week Apple Inc., the only Fortune 500 company with an openly-gay CEO, reportedly fired a conservative lobbyist only days after hiring him to represent the company for Alabama's upcoming 2015 legislative session.

Apple contracted former State Representative Jay Love (R), despite his record for upholding conservative values during his time in the Alabama Legislature between 2003 and 2013. Since 2013 Love has pursued private ventures, including a lobbying firm, according to the Yellow Hammer News.

The duration of Love's contract at Apple is unclear, but presumably quite brief.

On Friday, Feb. 13, Inside Alabama Politics reported Love as being on the state lobbyist list and as of Wednesday, he is still listed as an Apple representative.

But a spokesperson for Apple told the The Huffington Post Tuesday, Feb. 17, the tech company had severed its relationship with him.

"Jay Love does not work for Apple nor does he do any lobbying on our behalf," said Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet.

The Washington Blade, a gay-friendly media outlet, reported the same day that in Love's place, Apple had contracted Greg Jones, founder and president of the Alabama-based Jones Group.

The incongruous relationship was questioned by some from the beginning, though it is speculated Apple, which is widely known for being gay-friendly, was simply unaware of Love's support of traditional values and outspoken views against same-sex marriage and abortion.

Last October, Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly announced his homosexuality in an essay he wrote for Bloomberg Businessweek where he claimed being gay was one of the "greatest gifts" from God.

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