Last week the legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules voted to suspend a rule that the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board put in place that essentially says it’s unprofessional conduct for a licensed therapist, counselor, or social worker to do anything other than affirm a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. The committee voted along party lines.

The Examining Board overstepped its boundaries. The rule violates therapists’, counselors’, and social workers’ freedom of speech, religion, and conscience. Additionally, the content of this rule, that threatens the livelihood of these professionals and the well-being of clients, should be determined by the legislature, not unelected bureaucrats.