An Open Letter to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board: Do Not Surrender to Censorship

We are deeply disappointed in the recent direction taken by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Under pressure from a politically motivated, ideologically driven campaign, the BACB appears to have acquiesced to censorship that undermines the core values of evidence-based practice and professional integrity.

We are particularly alarmed that the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion — or even the abbreviation DEI — have been effectively blacklisted. The suggestion that speaking about equity or fairness could result in professional sanctions, including the loss of a license, is not only troubling — it is a violation of free expression and professional autonomy.

What’s more, this censorship is not based on careful review or meaningful standards. Content is being labeled "racist" and suppressed without context or explanation. A supervisor might say, “We’re going to talk about fairness in the workplace today,” and that alone could trigger disciplinary action? This is not just overreach — it's intimidation.

Instead of standing up for reason and professionalism, the BACB has chosen to revise policy in response to ideological pressure. Where is the leadership? Where is the coordination with other professional organizations to push back against this unconstitutional silencing of speech? Where is the acknowledgement that bias is real, and that fairness is a scientific and moral virtue — not a political liability?

Let us be clear: no one should promote illegal discrimination, and no one here is asking for that. But to pretend that discussing equity is inherently discriminatory — or that acknowledging systemic bias is somehow “unprofessional” — is to embrace denial over data.

We call on the BACB to reconsider its response to this incursion:

Stand for evidence, not ideology.

Protect free expression within the profession.

Reaffirm that discussing fairness, inclusion, and bias is both legal and essential to ethical practice.

This moment demands courage, not compliance. Silence is not neutrality — it is complicity.

Do not give in.