Angela Giampolo’s Caravan of Hope is an RV that tours around rural red towns in conservative states to provide queer-related legal services like gender marker and name changes, basic estate planning, uncontested divorces, and general legal guidance according to LGBTQ Nation.
Giampolo, who has been practicing LGBTQ+-focused law in Philadelphia since 2008, hatched the idea after she received an influx of calls and inquiries from scared locals following Donald Trump’s 2016 election win. Though Giampolo had a good handle on providing help and resources to her urban community, she wondered how people in rural areas and red states were getting help.
Giampolo used money out of her own pocket to purchase an RV trailer, and renovate it into a mobile office. Next, she planned a 30-day trip to 14 cities across the nation, covering 5,000 miles where she offered a day’s worth of queer-related legal services at each stop. She set off on her first trip in June 2023.
Caravan of Hope knows the dangers of moving openly through these communities, both for those providing services and those seeking them. “Our approach is discreet yet accessible,” their website reads. “The RV, strategically located 30-45 minutes from the towns we serve, ensures confidentiality and safety for all clients.”
“LGBTQ+ Americans live in every corner of this country and always will; there are proud LGBTQ+ farmers in Iowa and cattle herders in Wisconsin. The sad reality however is that LGBTQ+ individuals in states without laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation consistently see greater disparities than in states with protections, including less social acceptance and greater economic vulnerability.”
Giampolo’s next trip is slated for October when she will be visiting Lincoln, Nebraska; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Laramie, Wyoming. However, Giampolo doesn’t act alone, her partner collects food and gear before the trip, a driver navigates across various states, and a social media manager promotes upcoming stops. Plus, a documentarian comes along to record the work of the team, but also the life stories of those who visit the caravan.
Because Giampolo is only licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, she must solicit the help of local lawyers to lend their services to the caravan. In addition, LGBTQ+ friendly restaurants, bars, and more would let her conduct business on their property during her visits. Those who offered up their services and properties during her first 2023 trip, are said to be returning again. Plus, this year, Giampolo is offering two weeks of virtual legal services online to those who can’t make it to the caravan in person.
Giampolo continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, collaborating with the American Bar Association to provide Pride Month trainings on legal issues within the community, and to provide other lawyers with more tools to help others. In the future, she hopes to expand her local LGBTQ+-centered law firm nationally.
