James Hormel, first openly gay U.S. ambassador, dies at 88

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — James Hormel, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador and a philanthropist who funded organizations to fight AIDS and promote human rights, has died. He was 88.

Hormel died Friday at a San Francisco hospital with his husband, Michael, at his side and while listening to his favorite Beethoven concerto, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, praised Hormel as a civil rights pioneer who lived “an extraordinary life.”

“I will miss his kind heart and generous spirit. It’s those qualities that made him such an inspirational figure and beloved part of our city,” she said.



FILE— In this June 29, 1999, file photo, James C. Hormel, ambassador to Luxembourg, speaks to supporters following his swearing-in at a State Department ceremony in Washington. Hormel, who became the nation's first openly gay ambassador, died in San Francisco, Friday Aug. 13, 2021. Hormel, who was appointed to be the ambassadorship by President Bill Clinton in 1997, was 88. (AP Photo/Khue Bui, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-health-philanthropy-b03a4039682d0f1b297e0211b135b54d

[Skittles]

1. thank you Mr. Hormel and President Clinton

an extraordinary life indeed

[Tiger8]

2. He could have lived a quiet life

I lived in the same neighborhood as James Hormel in SF, and would occasionally walk by his beautiful home, which had a stunning view of the city.

Most people with Hormel's kind of wealth not only support Republicans, but are major donors to all sorts of right wing causes. As George Bush described them, "The Haves, and The Have Mores."

But alas, James Hormel was not only a Democrat, but a progressive Democrat. And not just a "check book Democrat" but he went further and gave of himself for decades in the fight for equality and to make better lives for LGBTQ and others. This was one reason Republicans hated him so much, and attempted to smear his good name and viciously attacked him because he was gay.

I hope the Joe Biden posthumously awards Mr. Hormel the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He deserves it.

[melm00se]

3. If he did a good job

why does it matter if he was gay or not?

[CountAllVotes]

4. +1

n/t

[CBHagman]

5. Reporting from the time Ambassador Hormel was appointed...

...and note that Marc Thiessen, spokesman for Jesse Helms (R-NC), is quoted in the story. Today Thiessen is on the op-ed page of The Washington Post.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/361494.stm

President Clinton has appointed America's first openly gay ambassador - in defiance of conservative politicians in the Senate who had twice blocked his nomination.

The appointment of San Francisco businessman James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg was made during a public holiday earlier this week when Congress was not in session.

Mr Clinton used a provision of the constitution allowing him to make such appointments during a congressional recess.