In September 2009, Nebraska's Board of Mental Health listened to the voices of many Nebraskans who called for no one to be turned away from mental health care because of who they are. Mental health policy should be based on professional expertise and supporting a patient's well-being - not a personal ideology (read more about allegations of politics at play).

The policy supported by the Board of Mental Health prohibited providers from discriminating against clients on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  It also required providers to refer when they were not able to provide a service.

The policies pushed by the Nebraska Catholic Conference and Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the State of Nebraska, go against the ethical guidelines of national mental health organizations. The Board of Mental Health should be thanked for putting patients first and encouraged to stand by their original policy. Dr. Schaefer should rely on the expertise provided by the experts on the Board of Mental Health.