Hormel Becomes 1st Openly Gay Envoy

James Hormel was sworn in as the first openly gay U.S. ambassador after a two-year delay caused by fierce opposition among conservative lawmakers and some Christian groups. Hormel took the oath of office to serve as ambassador to Luxembourg before Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at a Department of State ceremony attended by many supporters, including his former wife, Alice, his five children and his partner, Timothy Wu. Hormel, the 66-year-old heir to a meat-packing fortune, is a San Francisco philanthropist, lawyer and civic activist who has served on the board of the city’s symphony orchestra and Chamber of Commerce.