REMEMBRANCE
James C. Hormel, First Out US Ambassador, Dies at 88
Hormel was ambassador to Luxembourg from 1999 to 2001
BY CYNTHIA LAIRD
James Catherwood Hormel,
a philanthropist and the
fi rst openly LGBTQ person
to represent the United
States as an ambassador, died in
San Francisco Friday, August 13,
with his husband at his side and
his favorite Beethoven concerto
playing. He was 88.
Hormel served as ambassador to
Luxembourg from 1999 to 2001. In
a 2016 interview with the Bay Area
Reporter, he recalled the long and
tortuous route to the diplomatic
posting.
It all began at a 1992 dinner
with then-President Bill Clinton’s
campaign treasurer, Bob Farmer.
Over dinner, Farmer suggested to
Hormel that he seek a presidential
appointment as an ambassador.
“I was quite surprised when he
brought up the idea,” said Hormel,
noting that over 60 percent of such
positions are held by career employees
who have come up through
the ranks in the Foreign Service.
The appointment did not happen
easily, Hormel recalled.
In fact, it wasn’t until fi ve years
after that dinner that Clinton nominated
Hormel for the job. During
that period, recalled Hormel, he
made “dozens of visits and hundreds
of phone calls” to keep his
name in consideration.
Hormel said he was persistent
because, if appointed, “I would
break a ceiling and make it easier
for gay people to serve at the highest
levels of government.”
Senate Republicans and conservative
Christians opposed Hormel’s
nomination, and Clinton ultimately
employed a recess appointment
in May 1999, with Hormel being
sworn in a month later. Since his
appointment, there have been a
number of gay men appointed as
ambassadors. In July, President
Joe Biden nominated Chantale
Wong, a lesbian, to be the United
States director to the Asian Development
Bank, a post with the rank
of ambassador.
“We are deeply saddened by
the passing of Ambassador Jim
Former ambassador James C. Hormel sits at his desk in this 2011 photo.
Hormel,” stated former President
Bill Clinton and his wife, former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Jim devoted his life to advancing
the rights and dignity of all people,
and in his trailblazing service in
the diplomatic corps, he represented
the United States with honor
and brought us closer to living
out the meaning of a more perfect
union. We will always be grateful
for his courageous and principled
example, as well as the kindness
and support he gave us over so
many years. Our thoughts are
with his family and all who loved
him.”
Tributes also came in from many
others.
“Jim Hormel was a barrierbreaking
public servant, champion
for LGBTQ equality, and cherished
friend who will be dearly
missed in San Francisco, in our
nation and around the world,”
stated House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi. “Jim Hormel made history
as the fi rst openly gay US ambassador,
showing the world how the
voices of LGBTQ Americans are
integral to foreign policy, and paving
the way for a new generation of
leaders. With his gentle yet powerful
voice and undaunted determination,
Jim made it his mission
to fi ght for dignity and equality for
all. Paul and I are heartbroken at
this tremendous loss, and hope it
is a comfort to his husband, Michael,
and his children Alison,
Anne, Elizabeth, James Jr., and
Sarah, that Jim’s extraordinary
life continues to serve as a beacon
of hope and promise for LGBTQ
children across our country and
around the world.”
Gay former state Senator Mark
Leno of San Francisco knew
Hormel for years.
“We all knew Jim as a distinguished
and groundbreaking US
ambassador, a heartfelt, knowledgeable
and generous philanthropist,
and an accomplished leader,”
Leno stated. “I knew Jim as one of
the kindest and most empathetic
souls I have ever known; a gentleman
to his core with a sincere concern
for everyone.”
US Senator Dianne Feinstein of
California said Hormel was a “civil
rights pioneer.”
“Tapped to be the ambassador to
Luxembourg by President Clinton
in 1997, he was the fi rst openly gay
person to serve as an ambassador.
RICK GERHARTER
While his nomination was controversial
at the time, his service was
distinguished and helped advance
LGBTQ rights both at home and
abroad,” Feinstein stated.
Hormel was often recognized
over the years. In 2010, he was the
lifetime achievement grand marshal
for the San Francisco Pride
March. He was a San Francisco
Pride March community grand
marshal in 2005.
In a 2010 interview, Hormel recounted
that he had attended his
fi rst SF Pride parade decades earlier.
He said the parade and celebration
had “taken on a different
meaning as time has passed.”
Hormel said initially the event
was meant to demonstrate LGBTQ
presence, especially politically.
Unlike in the parade’s early days,
today “there’s really a critical mass
of gay and lesbian elected offi cials
around the country, in small and
large states and small and large
cities,” said Hormel.
In an effort to promote LGBTQ
rights, Hormel was one of the
founders of the Human Rights
Campaign Fund, later renamed the
➤ HORMEL, continued on p.17
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 8,16 2021 | GayCityNews.com
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