Draft:Aaron Baer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aaron Baer is an American lobbyist and activist serving as president of the Center for Christian Virtue, a conservative Christian advocacy organization headquartered in Ohio, since November 2016.[1][2] During his tenure, the group has expanded its influence on state legislation, including expansions of school voucher programs, bans on gender-affirming care for minors, and restrictions on transgender participation in sports.[3][4] Baer has advocated for policies reflecting Christian values in government while facing opposition from LGBTQ+ groups over the organization's positions.[5][6]
 | Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about either yourself or your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by Bearcat (talk | contribs) 8 days ago. (Update) |
Aaron Baer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ohio University |
| Occupations | Lobbyist, activist |
| Known for | President of the Center for Christian Virtue |
Early life and education
Aaron Baer was born and raised in Warren, Ohio, to parents who became believers in Christ before his birth, with his father working as a local pastor.[7][8][9] In his teenage years, Baer identified as a Democrat and canvassed for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.[10][11]
Baer's political views shifted to conservatism while studying journalism at Ohio University, influenced by biblical teachings on issues like the sanctity of life, marriage, and family.[12][13] This shift led him to support limited government as a way to address human sinfulness through power checks.[14]
Career
Aaron Baer worked for a conservative policy group in Arizona and served as a policy advisor to Arizona's Republican attorney general before his role at the Center for Christian Virtue.[15][16] These positions emphasized traditional family values and pro-life advocacy.[17] Baer became president of the Center for Christian Virtue in 2016, replacing Phil Burress after his retirement.[18][19]
Baer relocated the organization from Cincinnati to Columbus near the Ohio Statehouse, expanded its scope beyond obscenity laws, and rebranded it from Citizens for Community Values to Center for Christian Virtue.[20][21] The group grew its staff from two to 35 employees and increased annual revenue from $472,524 in 2016 to $4.7 million in recent years.[22][23] Baer founded ministries for Christian schools, businesses, and churches, including the Ohio Christian Education Network representing over 60 Evangelical and Catholic schools.[24][25]
The organization purchased a building across from the Statehouse and hosts an annual Essential Summit with national conservative speakers.[26][27] Baer received the Heritage Innovation Prize from the Heritage Foundation in 2024, including a $100,000 grant.[28][29]
Policy advocacy
Under Aaron Baer's leadership, the Center for Christian Virtue has influenced Ohio laws, including universal expansion of the EdChoice voucher program for schools, bans on gender-affirming care for minors, prohibitions on transgenders in girls' sports, and transgender bathroom restrictions in schools.[30][31] Baer expressed hope for Vivek Ramaswamy's conversion.[32][33] He has attributed societal issues to the decline of marriage and family, calling for young people to marry earlier and have more children.[34][35]
Baer argues that government should have zero interference in church affairs.[36][37] He supports school choice, responsible fatherhood programs, and teaching the Success Sequence in schools to reduce poverty.[38][39] Baer has criticized public education as fundamentally broken and ideologically oriented over student needs.[40] He defends the group's transgender policies, attributing high suicide rates among transgender youth to comorbidities such as anxiety or depression.[41][42]
Baer asserts no child is born in the wrong body and views gender-affirming treatments for minors as unloving.[43][44] The Center for Christian Virtue under Baer aims to integrate Christian principles into policy without mandating conversion, citing anti-rape laws as examples of Christian values.[45] In electoral decisions, Baer adopts a pragmatic approach, supporting candidates who advance righteous policies despite imperfections.[46] Baer prioritizes parental rights in healthcare and education, advocating for bans on cell phones in schools and for paper-based testing.[47][48] He backs a refundable child tax credit in Ohio to lower long-term government service demands, though he prefers linking it to marriage for optimal impact.[49]
Public reception and controversies
Aaron Baer has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who designate the Center for Christian Virtue as an anti-LGBTQ+ group.[50][51] In January 2026, LGBTQ+ advocates gathered outside a City Club of Cleveland forum where Baer discussed faith and policy, with some throwing paint resulting in one arrest.[52][53] More than 100 LGBTQ+ leaders denounced the event beforehand, demanding cancellation, while supporters like Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost praised Baer's handling of questions.[54][55]
Baer has described the label as a tactic by opponents unable to win policy debates on merits.[56][57] At the forum, Baer encouraged dialogue despite disagreements and emphasized advocacy for laws restricting transgender sports participation and procedures for minors.[58][59] The Center for Christian Virtue has used such events as defenses of Christian free speech.[60]