A Massachusetts healthcare center that provides gender-affirming care says it has allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect its staff and patients, amid a rise in threats and harassment against some treatment facilities in the United States. The center, which asked not to be identified to avoid attracting further aggression, said it raised $261,000 from five grants to put a security system in place to deal with menacing phone calls, harassment and the potential for more serious threats. Massachusetts is not among the 20 states where legislatures with Republican majorities have banned or restricted treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for transgender minors.