The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) is an American lobbying organization for conservative Christian sexual morality in public policy. They are classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Background
Citizens for Community Values was founded in 1983 in Cincinnati by Dr. Jerry Kirk and local church leaders concerned about the spread of pornography and its effects on families and communities. In 1990, CCV drew national attention through litigation against Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center over a Robert Mapplethorpe photography exhibit. It was one of the first times a museum faced criminal charges over an art show.
In 1991, Phil Burress became CCV’s president and helped expand its agenda. Under Burress, CCV affiliated with Focus on the Family and helped lead the successful 2004 campaign to amend the Ohio Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Burress retired in 2016, and Aaron Baer became president. In 2021, CCV changed their name to Center for Christian Virtue and purchased a prominent building in Columbis, across from the Ohio Statehouse.
References
Comeriato, H.L. (July 7, 2025). Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue reclassified as anti-LGBTQ+ hate group. The Buckeye Flame https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/07/07/ohios-center-for-christian-virtue-reclassified-as-anti-lgbtq-hate-group/
Selected writing by CCV
Baer, Aaron (January 8, 2025). Ohio’s SAFE Act Takes Effect: Protecting Children from Experimental Gender Procedures. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohios-safe-act-takes-effect-protecting-children-from-experimental-gender-procedures/
Baer, Aaron (January 3, 2025). Major Win: Ohio’s SAFE Act Officially Becomes Law. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/major-win-ohios-safe-act-officially-becomes-law/
Baer, Aaron (December 30, 2024). Federal Court Halts Biden Administration’s Title IX Overreach in Ohio. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/federal-court-halts-biden-administrations-title-ix-overreach-in-ohio/
[Author not specified] (December 11, 2024). Ohio Legislature Overrides DeWine’s Veto of SAFE Act. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohio-legislature-overrides-dewines-veto-of-safe-act/
Baer, Aaron (December 9, 2024). Governor DeWine Betrays Ohio Families with Veto of SAFE Act. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/governor-dewine-betrays-ohio-families-with-veto-of-safe-act/
Baer, Aaron (November 21, 2024). Victory in the Culture War: Trump’s Promise to Protect Women’s Sports. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/victory-in-the-culture-war-trumps-promise-to-protect-womens-sports/
[Author not specified] (November 14, 2024). Ohio Senate Passes SAFE Act to Protect Children. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohio-senate-passes-safe-act-to-protect-children/
Baer, Aaron (October 21, 2024). Stand With Riley Gaines: Protecting Women’s Sports in Ohio. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/stand-with-riley-gaines-protecting-womens-sports-in-ohio/
[Author not specified] (September 18, 2024). Ohio House Passes Save Women’s Sports Act. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohio-house-passes-save-womens-sports-act/
Baer, Aaron (June 13, 2024). CCV Testifies in Support of Protecting Women’s Sports. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ccv-testifies-in-support-of-protecting-womens-sports/
Baer, Aaron (May 30, 2024). Protecting Parental Rights and Children’s Safety. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/protecting-parental-rights-and-childrens-safety/
Baer, Aaron (March 14, 2024). Standing Firm: CCV’s Testimony on the SAFE Act. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/standing-firm-ccvs-testimony-on-the-safe-act/
[Author not specified] (December 29, 2023). Governor DeWine Vetoes Legislation Protecting Children and Women. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/governor-dewine-vetoes-legislation-protecting-children-and-women/
Baer, Aaron (December 13, 2023). Ohio Legislature Passes Historic Bills Protecting Children and Women’s Sports. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohio-legislature-passes-historic-bills-protecting-children-and-womens-sports/
[Author not specified] (June 21, 2023). Ohio House Votes to Protect Children from Experimental Gender Procedures. Center for Christian Virtue. https://ccv.org/ohio-house-votes-to-protect-children-from-experimental-gender-procedures/
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
GLAAD Accountability Project (glaad.org/gap)
- Center for Christian Virtue
- glaad.org/gap/center-for-christian-virtue
Center for Christian Virtue (ccv.org)
Buckeye Ballot (buckeyeballot.com)
Ohio Christian Education Network (ocen.org)
Facebook (facebook.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)