Photo Credit: Caravan of Hope

From a press release — Caravan of Hope, a bold, 31-day, cross-country RV tour bringing free, life-affirming legal services directly to LGBTQ+ people in rural and underserved communities across the United States, will visit Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., on Wednesday, March 25. 

Angela Giampolo, founder of Giampolo Law Group and nationally recognized as “Your Gay Lawyer,” kicked off Caravan of Hope’s journey March 1. Stops in 17 cities have been planned. 

At each stop, Giampolo and her team will provide pro bono legal services focused on protecting identity, family security, and long-term stability, critical needs that remain out of reach for many LGBTQ+ individuals outside major metropolitan areas.

“While big cities often have layers of affirming resources and legal protections, vast parts of this country do not,” said Giampolo. “In many communities, especially right now, LGBTQ+ people are facing heightened risk, shrinking protections, and limited access to legal help. The Caravan of Hope is about showing up where support is scarce and making sure people are not navigating this alone.”

The Caravan of Hope is intentionally designed to reach communities facing disproportionate legal and economic barriers, including LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, transgender individuals confronting systemic instability, and older LGBTQ+ adults who often lack safe, affirming support systems.
 
Pro bono services provided during the tour will include name changes; gender marker and ID-related updates; simple estate planning, including wills, powers of attorney and healthcare directives; and general legal guidance, resources and referrals.

By bringing legal services directly to the people who need them most, the 2026 Caravan of Hope tour aims to close critical access gaps, empower individuals to protect their rights, and reaffirm a simple but powerful message: LGBTQ+ people deserve safety, dignity, and legal recognition, no matter where they live.

About Angela Giampolo
Giampolo is the founder of Giampolo Law Group, a nationally recognized LGBTQ+-owned firm based in Philadelphia. She holds a Certificate of Law in Chinese Law from Tsinghua University and previously worked with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Rwandan Genocide. The Caravan of Hope was founded in 2016 as a direct response to Trump taking office and what Giampolo describes as the widening gap between people who can access affirming legal help and those who cannot.