According to a study released by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 76 percent of all transgender people in the state of Massachusetts have experienced harassment or mistreatment on the job because of their gender identity or gender expression, and around 20 percent have reported losing a job due to being transgender. Yet despite these harrowing statistics, legislation that would protect transgender Massachusetts residents from discrimination when it comes to employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit has stalled in the state legislature.

Earlier this year, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order protecting transgender state employees from discrimination. But while this was a welcome move, Gov. Patrick's order only covers people who are state employees, and does not extend elsehwere in the state.

As Lee Swislow, the Executive Director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), said in regards to Gov. Patrick's executive order: "It is only a first step. There are still many more who need the protection offered by this executive order but who will not get it because they are not state employees. Additionally, the Executive Order does not and cannot address the widespread problem of violence and hate crimes against transgender people or the discrimination and harassment they too often face when trying to complete the most mundane activities of daily life that most of us take for granted - running errands, going to work, shopping or dining out at restaurants. Only our legislature can remedy these unfortunate circumstances by passing the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, which would add the phrase "gender identity and expression" to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws."

Let's urge the Massachusetts legislature to pass the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, and add "gender identity and expression" to the civil rights laws in the Bay State.