As a student of social work as well as a resident of Massachusetts, I hold the belief that a "Yes" vote on Question 3 on the Massachusetts ballot Nov. 6 should be endorsed and promoted. I, like everyone should, believe that establishing and upholding human rights are a big part of keeping our society a place of freedom. This question asks something very simple: “Who can be discriminated against?” A "Yes" vote would be answering, “Nobody.”

Question 3 is about treating others the way we want to be treated. A common phrase used in nearly every household, this simple concept has been misconstrued and may not exist in the world of politics. The ability to live your life with safety, dignity and privacy may seem like an inherent right, but to transgender individuals it is a big unknown. Many must hide who they are in fear of discrimination, violence and hate.

Studies show that 55 percent of transgender participants reported suicidal ideations and 11 percent for suicide attempts in their lifetime. This translates to 14 and 22 times more than the general public, and is the most at-risk population of individuals toward suicide. Everybody deserves a fair chance in life, including people who are transgender, and repealing our state's protections would put them at an even greater disadvantage.

As a resident of Massachusetts, I believe as a community we can come together and fight discrimination by supporting people of all backgrounds. It would be ignorant to state that voting "Yes" on Question 3 will end discrimination, but a marathon is done one step at a time. Take this step toward ending discrimination in our wonderful state and go out to vote to support our fellow human beings on Nov. 6.

Cody Barros

Fall River