Thursday would’ve been the 78th birthday of trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, who is believed to have been one of the first people to fight back in the Stonewall Inn Riots, considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, one of the first LGBTQ+ state senators in New York state history, has sponsored bills designed to help these communities.

Hoylman-Sigal told Capital Tonight that in the next session, he is looking forward to getting more funding for a transgender and transgender and non-binary wellness and equity program, which received $3 million in its initial year.

In the past legislative session, Hoylman-Sigal was able to secure a win on legislation that would expand insurance coverage for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medication, commonly known as PreP and PeP, which is used to prevent HIV infection.

The senator says the legislation could help New York “put the brakes on HIV.”

One bill that was sponsored by the senator which hasn’t gotten to the governor’s desk yet would create a bill of rights for LGBT residents in long-term care facilities.

Hoylman-Sigal says he is “very hopeful” the governor will sign the legislation, which is modeled after the California system.