BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - When Philadelphia-based attorney Angela Giampolo began looking for cities to visit for the second Caravan of Hope tour, coming back to Birmingham was an obvious decision.
Giampolo says that, despite Alabama historically being a difficult state for LGBTQ+ people to live in, the Magic City has proven itself to be a pioneer over the years.
In 2017, the City of Birmingham became the first in Alabama to adopt anti-discrimination laws to protect everyone regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
“It was the first city to enact LGBTQ+ employment discrimination protections and has strong LGBTQ+ business leaders and safe places for queer folks to gather and for folks outside of Birmingham to seek resources,” she said.
Birmingham’s thriving LGBTQ+ community played a part, too.
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“I like to bring community to cities where our community is already gathering and from my research, that’s Birmingham!” Giampolo said.
Giampolo and her team, including volunteers around the country, use the Caravan of Hope tour to provide free legal services to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Their 32-foot RV will pull into the Magic City Friday, March 6 and set up shop outside AIDS Alabama on 7th Avenue South.
Giampolo and her team will be offering free legal services, including name change support and help with the petitions, simple wills and powers of attorney, SAVE Act compliance questions and general legal resources.
Caravan of Hope was started as a way to bring legal services, and hope, to LGBTQ+ people in underserved rural communities.
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“LGBTQ+ Americans live in every corner of this country, and always will,” their website reads. “The unfortunate reality, however, is that in states without laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, LGBTQ+ individuals experience significantly greater disparities, including lower levels of social acceptance and increased economic vulnerability.”
The 2026 tour includes 17 stops in cities across the south and mid-west.
Their first tour also included a stop in central Alabama.
“The last time we were in Birmingham was in 2023 and then the election in 2024 took me - all of us - for a wild ride and I’m just now in a place where I can take a month out of my law firm day-to-day again to do this,” Giampolo said. “The idea is to do it every year during Pride Month barring political calamities!”
The Caravan of Hope will be at AIDS Alabama on Friday, March 6 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will see people on a first come, first served basis.
To learn more about Caravan of Hope, visit caravanofhope.lgbt, Anyone interested in volunteering can click or tap here.
Follow Angela Giampolo on Instagram via YourGayLawyer.
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