[masklinn]

> Having an orientation that gets you jailed or killed in some countries

Cook was born in Alabama in 1960. For a long time, his orientation could get him jailed or killed in his place of birth. Hell, as of 2016 Alabama still is hardly a good place for people with Cook's sexual orientation[0][1][2].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Moore#Same-sex_marriage

[1] http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/06/462161670/...

[2] 13A-6-65(3)[3], though ruled unconstitutional (since 2003 and Lawrence v. Texas), is still on the books

[3] http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/13A/6/4/13A-6-65