today marks transgender day of visibility a day to observe and recognize the important contributions of transgender people to their communities across the world it's also a day to end prejudice against trans people especially where visibility is not possible because of transphobia or oppression around the world transgender and non-binary people are advocating for their support and holding rallies the events are especially important to many in the lgbtq plus Community after months of anti-trans legislation being pushed in over 30 states in the U.S the Trenton rally is one segment of a larger national movement that's culminating with the mass rally in D.C senior correspondent Joanna Gage is at the rally in Trenton and has more Joanna that's right Raven as you said today March 31st is transgender day of visibility and while so much is happening across the country transgender Advocates gathered here in New Jersey in the hopes of sending a clear message to State leaders that this state the Garden State needs to be a leader in the fight for Trans rights with over 400 anti-lgbtq bills being introduced and passed across the country I joined query youth assemble who is a non-partisan national or non-profit organization working to help uplift lgbtq youth voices across the country we have organized over 160 different marches across the country across every single state including DC which is what I'm on my way to now tell me about this March and what you're really hoping to accomplish here in New Jersey in particular we really want to see New Jersey Embrace like similar to the way that people look to New Jersey in order to protect bodily autonomy when abortion rights Nationwide are under attack at least personally one of the things I want to see come out of this March is I want to see New Jersey do the same thing and act as a safe haven for people from other states where there are anti-trans laws going on and so there's actually a bill that Senator zwicker who's sponsoring it and it would basically ensure protections for people who are receiving and providing gender affirming care and it would also make sure that if people come from you know States from anti-trans laws that New Jersey isn't collaborating with them isn't sharing any information so would you like to see New Jersey become when you say a safe haven do you mean a place where people can come for that type of Medical Care yes in part that is what I would like to see where people feel like you know that is safe and loving and where there is an active effort by the New Jersey legislature to push back against what is happening Nationwide of course all things come back to money and how do you fund that is that something that you believe this legislature would put real money behind well I'm hoping that this March will be an incentive to see that there is there is motivation there are people who are interested in pushing for this Raisa Ruben stankiewicz says those are her personal beliefs not the mission of queer youth assemble or March for our lives New Jersey but she's not the only one here hoping for that kind of change it's not necessarily more about the laws in the state but more about how people feel out like others like we're just trying to show people that no matter what you are if you're trans or gay or straight you're accepted and we're also trying to make an impression on the entire country as a whole yeah there's some things happening around the country that have really rolled back uh transgender rights what's most concerning to you in terms of what you've seen in the last few weeks certain States specifically Florida and Tennessee rolling back on trans rights not allowing them to even transition until the age of 18 which is an issue for a lot of people because they typically try and transition before they hit puberty because it's easier to make the transition is there anything that you'd like to see happen here in New Jersey in terms of state law or in terms of the culture shift to create a more inclusive environment I would like to see more Mental Health Options available as well as options for specifically trans youth who want to transition at Young ages if they don't have access to health care or health insurance State options that allow them to do it for understate funds this wicker bill hasn't yet had a hearing but the folks gathered here today hope to amplify the voices of the transgender Community here in New Jersey loud enough to be heard Across the Nation in Trenton I'm Joanna gagis [Music]