Woman Crush Wednesday: Angela Giampolo aka Philly Gay Lawyer

Angela Giampolo

My name is Angela Giampolo, and these are my local picks for Woman Crush Wednesday.

Jaws

This heartthrob has only been in my life for three months, but you would think she's been with me all of her 15 years. Despite being totally deaf, somewhat blind, having zero teeth and missing her bottom jaw. little Jaws manages to bring a smile to every single person who meets her. If you would have asked me three months ago if I would be carrying a 3-pound dog in a baby Bjorn, I would have laughed at you. Cut to me carrying her everywhere I go, including client meetings, breakfast through dinner, gay kickball, and even to the top of Logan One when I rappelled off it! So, what does Jaws do when she’s not at Knock? She’s hard at work trying to make more money than Grumpy Cat.

Kristina Furia

I crush on Kristina (right) for obvious reasons. In addition to being a stellar therapist, great writer and awesome dancer, she’s a phenomenal girlfriend. I’ve known Kristina for several years and what I admire most about her is her constant desire for growth—be it personal or professional. She keeps me on my toes daily and will be the first to ask why not? Instead of why. We could not be more different in some ways but we’re aligned and similar in all the ways that matter.

Loraine Ballard Morrill

Loraine (right) is my straight sister from another mister. She’s an inspiration to me in many ways, both personal and professional. In addition to being my news director for the SpeakOUT radio show I host on Q102, she’s also a DIS-ter (damsels in success sister) and a constant force of positivity. Loraine has won more awards than I can count, but my favorite is when she was awarded AIDS Fund's Favorite Straight Person at Black Tie Gay Bingo in 2012. My favorite part about Loraine and a story that exemplifies her to a tee is when I asked her if she would accompany me to Gay World Pride in Toronto, and even though I had to go to deeeeeeep South Philly the day before departure to get her passport from a random expeditor, we made the flight! The rest of the trip … well, what happens in Toronto stays in Toronto!

Crystal Cheatham

Crystal rocks. Pure and simple. She took her life story and experiences and used it to create the IDK Project, of which she’s executive director. IDK produces identity kids geared toward LGBTQ youth who are attempting to reconcile their faith and their sexuality, ultimately teaching them how the two can co-exist. On top of that, she’s a ghost writer. I had never met a ghost writer before … I always knew they existed but pictured them stuck in an attic somewhere typing away at an old type-writer. Not a hot, young and hilarious person who manages to make sugar-free, gluten-free eggnog sound appetizing. On top of all that, I love her passion to do what she wants to do; she’s the only other person I met who didn’t like the word “entrepreneur.” “Hustler” suits us much better.

Karina Bobina

There aren’t many people who have been to as many places as me (30 countries!), but Karina is definitely one of them! She’s known in the community mainly for heading up Pulse, one of the monthly lesbian parties, but what most don’t know about is her thirst for knowledge, justice and deep life experiences. She’s taking her search for knowledge and justice a step further this fall when she starts law school at Rutgers. She’ll be taking her love of travel, knowledge of the world and thirst for languages (Spanish and Portuguese) to be an immigration attorney and give a voice to those who need it most.

Lauren Vidas

Lauren (center) gets more done in a day than most of us do in a week. We first met when she asked me to vote for Obama and then handed me a Stoli razz cosmo. Her career as a lobbyist was born in that moment! Before that she spent four years working for the city of Philadelphia—first as a legislative aide in City Council and then as a government affairs specialist for Mayor Nutter. Since working for the city, she’s been kicking butt and making Philadelphia a better place as co-owner of a local public strategies firm (a fancy word for lobbyist) focused on state and local policy. Not to mention, she spends her spare time doing standup comedy and she has an awesome tattoo of the Liberty Bel. I mean, how much cooler can you get?!

Morgan Alexis

Again, another lady known for her phenomenal party-promoting skills with a deep passion for all things social justice. (I’m starting to sense a trend here!) Morgan is currently a Fellow for State Representative Brian Sims, and before that she worked at YCWA working to eliminate racism and empower women and provide safe places for women and girls. I don’t know what Morgan has up her sleeve next but one thing I know for sure: She’s going to make a difference in people’s lives and do so while beaming an amazing smile.

Natalie Hope McDonald

When I say Natalie's name, I have to say “Natalie Hope McDonald”! Enough said, right?! Well, the truth is that I can’t say enough about her, and I totally crush on her artistic brain and talent. She gave a voice to the LGBTQ community during the early days of G Philly and did so with a journalistic flair. She continues freelance writing and only writes about what she’s passionate about—which shines through in every word. Even more impressive than her writing (which is a tall feat to begin with) is her bourgeoning art career. Her work was in Spectrum Miami art show just last week!

Jillian Loyden

I’ve known her for a few years now and we mainly connected around sports; she was on the U.S. Women’s Soccer team and the regional team Sky Blue, in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. While I would routinely kick her butt in flip cup (sorry to put that out there but #truestory!) she would kill everyone at Crimes Against Humanity. So needless to say, house parties with Jill are a good time. I crush on Jill because of her courage. She retired from the U.S. Women’s Soccer team after Hope Solo was charged with domestic violence. Unlike the Ray Rice situation, both the U.S. Women’s Soccer League and Nike stood behind Hope and did nothing. Jill wrote an impassioned opinion piece for USA Today on the day she resigned in which she calls for all professional athletes—men and women alike—to be the role models our society expects them to be. What most people don’t know is that Jill lost her sister to domestic violence a few years ago and in addition to taking care of her totally sweet and cute nephew, Maddon, she also started the Jillian Loyden Foundation, which is a non-profit geared toward breaking the silence around domestic violence and empowering young girls so that no one has to lose a mother, sister or friend again.

Gloria Casarez

I will crush on Gloria Monday through Friday for the rest of my days, and I know I’m not the only one. Gloria was a fighter, a leader, an organizer and a hell-raiser—and loved for all of it. When Gloria passed away the entire community came together in a way that still gives me chills. The overwhelming support truly exemplified her impact on this community. One of my favorite things about Gloria was her storytelling ability; everything in her life had meaning and a story behind it and most of the time they ended with a crack that had us all laughing. That’s what I’ll always remember most about Gloria, her ability (without trying) to laugh and make others laugh. #WWGD

Share your Woman Crush Wednesday!

Here are the rules: (1) Name five to 10 ladies you’re crushing on (2) You and all women involved must be from Philadelphia (3) Email your crushes to ferrazchristina@gmail.com.

Our Last Five Woman Crush Wednesdays:

• Bethany Gregory
• Tara Beth Robertson
• Lascivious Jane
• Megan Slattery
• Rachel Turanski