On November 23, 2011, Governor Patrick signed into law House Bill 3810, “An Act Relative To Gender Identity.” The new law protects transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education, employment and credit by adding “gender identity” to the list of classes protected by various Massachusetts non-discrimination and hate crime statutes. Specifically, the Act expands the protections from discrimination in housing, employment and credit provided under Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws to transgender individuals. It also amends the Commonwealth’s hate crime statutes to include gender identity-related offenses and public and charter school non-discrimination laws to cover discrimination motivated by gender identity.

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