Bills to add “gender identity and expression” to the state’s civil rights laws have been filed in the House by Representative Carl Sciortino of Medford and in the Senate by Senator Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield.

At present, Massachusetts’ civil rights laws prohibit discrimination only on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex and marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

The bills would also add crimes motivated by a victim’s gender identity and expression to the list of offenses that are treated as hate crimes.

The bills follow in the wake of an executive order signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick on Feb. 17 prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression in state employment.