Internationally, Hormel has served as an alternative U.S. representative to the 51st session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Also, he was a member of the U.S. delegation in the U.N. Human Rights commission in Geneva, Switzerland. But in spite of all these contributions and obvious qualifications, Senator Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., put a hold on Hormel's nomination. You see, James Hormel is gay. For this reason, and also because of his open involvement with several gay rights groups, several senators do not want Hormel appointed to the ambassador position.
Sex does, in some situations, play a role in a person's ability to perform their appointed duties.
President Clinton is a prime example of this predicament, with his alleged inability to keep his hands off interns and other employees. There is the possibility that the host country has either religious or moral issues with sexual orientation. However, this is not the case with Luxembourg, as they have publicly supported Hormel's nomination. James Hormel is the most qualified and ideal candidate for the job. He was chosen from a pool of more than 100 other nominees for the position because of his personal experiences and his expertise with U.S. and U.N. appointments.