reporting live in uptown, elsa gill gillis channel 9 eyewitness news. >>> the area's jobless rate rose to 5.3% in january from 4.9% in december. we're still doing better compared to this time last year when the unemployment rate was at 5.7%. experts say the swing is common after holiday seasonal hiring ends. >>> today community members rallied in uptown charlotte against charlotte's new ordinance that's designed to protect people in the lgbt community. the group was especially protesting the part of the ordinance that allows people to choose the bathroom that best identify with. it takes effect april 1st. a victim of sexual assault said today that she is worried that this ordinance will be abused and put women and children at risk. >> there are countless deviant men who will pose as a trans gender who will pretend to be women in order to gain access to the people they want to exploit. >> they say that 12,000 people have all ready signed a petition trying to pressure lawmakers to call a special session to over turn the ordinance. in the mean time, just yesterday in raleigh, lgbt advocat