Voting Station

James Hormel

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Diplomat

The Resume

    (January 1, 1933-August 13, 2021)
    Born in Austin, Minnesota
    Grandson of Hormel Foods founder George A. Hormel
    Philanthropist/LGBT activist
    Founding member of the Human Rights Campaign (1981)
    Funded the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center at the San Francisco Public Library (1995)
    Member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1995)
    US Ambassador to Luxembourg (1999-2001)
    First openly gay man to serve as an American ambassador

Why he might be annoying:

    He is heir to a fortune based on Spam. (And, to be fair, on other, less-objectionable lunchmeats.)
    Bill Clinton initially planned to name him ambassador to Fiji, but had second thoughts following protests from Fijian officials, who noted that homosexual acts are illegal in their country.
    Conservative groups protested his appointment as ambassador to Luxembourg, claiming that he was pro-pornography and anti-Catholic.
    Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott blocked a vote on his nomination for two years, forcing Clinton to use a recess appointment to make him an ambassador.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He has funded research into AIDS and breast cancer.
    The pro-pornography claim was based on a list of titles at the Hormel Center -- works which also turned out to be included in the Library of Congress.
    The anti-Catholic charges were based entirely on an interview in which he laughed at a joke about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
    His supporters included some Republican Senators, such as Orin Hatch and Al D'Amato.
    He received the Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshall Award from the San Francisco Pride board of directors (2010).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 123 Votes: 49.59% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 61 Votes: 70.49% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying