Support BAMM

Over the past ten years, MOASH has watched with pride as the BAMM Pride Summit has grown into the event it is today. What started as a small, day-long workshop in 2015 with around 40 attendees has grown into a beloved event that over 400 youth and school staff across Michigan attend each year.

The BAMM Pride Youth Summit is a space where LGBTQIA+ youth can be themselves, make connections, and learn new things. We strive each year to provide attendees with an impactful, free experience that will positively affect the young people, their GSAs or other clubs, and their schools. As we reflect on our tenth summit, held in May of 2024, MOASH and GVSU continue to dream of BAMM's future.

The history of this event and its funding is below, but currently, the BAMM Pride Summit does not have any dedicated grant funding. MOASH is committed to keeping BAMM a free event for all attendees, but rising costs have made the summit increasingly expensive to host each year. MOASH has launched a fundraising campaign through the fundraising platform Givebutter for our upcoming Summit. 100% of the donations to this campaign will go directly to supporting the costs surrounding the BAMM Pride Summit, including the cost of food, free busing for attendees, event t-shirts, and speaker fees.

Supporting this event will help support the hundreds of youth who look forward to attending the BAMM Pride Summit each year. Youth thrive when they have the support of their community, so please help us provide community to hundreds of youth in Michigan.

Donations can be made in honor or memory of someone. You can check out the full campaign by clicking the button below or donate directly from this page by using Givebutter's embedded donation tool.

Donate Below!

Dates & Times

Annually in May, typically first or second Friday

Roughly 9 AM to 3:45 PM

See last year's agenda below!

Location

Grand Valley State University

Audience

This summit is for LGBTQIA+ youth residing anywhere in Michigan. There will be some sessions available for supportive adults and advisors who are accompanying youth.

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Over the past ten years, BAMM has grown into an anticipated and respected event for LGBTQ+ youth and supportive adults in Michigan. As we reflect on 2024's 10th Anniversary Summit, we hope to honor and celebrate the history of BAMM and create a memorable event for new and returning attendees.

The BAMM Pride Summit is a free event for LGBTQIA+ middle and high school youth to spend a day learning, connecting, and building community! With nearly 400 youth, parents, and advisors attending, the BAMM Pride Summit is one of the largest events specifically for LGBTQIA+ youth in Michigan. While this is a youth-focused event, supportive adults and school staff who are bringing youth to the summit are also welcome to attend - consider making the BAMM Pride Summit a field trip for your GSA! We ask that adults who are not bringing youth do not attend the in-person portions of the summit.

Are you interested in attending or presenting at BAMM? Sign up for our email newsletter and follow our social media accounts (Instagram & Facebook) to receive up-to-date emails about BAMM, including registration announcements and general updates.

If you'd like to support the BAMM Pride Summit, please check out our fundraising efforts. All money donated to this fundraiser will be used entirely for the BAMM Pride Summit. Anyone who donates any amount can have their name (or a name of their choice) included in the printed and virtual summit program. If you'd like to directly sponsor the event, reach out to MOASH through our contact page or directly at info@moash.org.

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to sarah.yoakum@moash.org for more information.

For more info about the summit, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

Building a Movement for Michigan (BAMM) Pride: An LGBTQIA+ Youth Summit

A group of people on a stage in front of a black curtain. The front row is kneeling and the back row is standing. The group is smiling at the camera. Most are wearing a black shirt with a pink Michigan design.

The group photo from 2020's BAMM Pride Summit. Hundreds of people stand in front of two screens that say "welcome to the summit".

A zoom gallery of BAMM Staff. They are all smiling and have blue and pink backgrounds

A group of 30 people standing and sitting in a hallway. Everyone is wearing a KN95 mask

A photo of three people talking at a round banquet table. The table is covered in handouts and drink bottles.

A clothing rack of outdoor vest and jackets

Two people facing each other. They each have an undone tie around their neck and have a hand on each end, as if to start tying their own tie.

One youth is sitting in a chair with their eyes closed. A second young person is leaning toward them with their hands up, applying mascara to the first youth.

A young person smiling with their mouth open and holding out their BAMM shirt to read.

Two young people sitting behind a table with a rainbow flag taped to the front.

A large group of adolescents seated in front of a stage with four students on it in a panel.

A group of adolescents posing in front of a MOASH photo backdrop.

A group of adolescents posing behind a trans flag.

A group of three adolescents standing next to each other smiling and posing for the camera.

Two adolescents holding up a shirt for MY CAB.

Four young people standing behind a podium with the trans flag secured to the front.

A group of adolescents posing in front of the MOASH photo backdrop.

Two adolescents posing in front of the MOASH photo backdrop.

Two adolescents excitedly looking through clothing racks.

An adolescent holding up a clothing item in the clothing closet.

A presenter handing something to a very excited participant.

A group of seven adolescents posing and smiling for the camera.

An adult smiling widely and sitting at a table with a banner for O O T L Community Center.

An adolescent is carefully painting another adolescent's nails at a table with a rainbow banner on it.

Photo Gallery

Additional LGBTQ+ Resources

MOASH:

What's Up with GSAs?

Guide to Gender Affirming Care in Michigan

LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity Toolkit

External:

Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) Network

The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Facebook group: Michigan Adult Allies of LGBTQ+ Youth Affinity Group

Sample Schedule

The outline of the 2023 BAMM Pride Summit is below. The virtual summit will follow the same schedule as the in-person summit.

2023 BAMM Pride Summit agenda:

9-9:30am: In-person arrival and check-in
9:30-10:15am: Welcome and community building
10:30-11:30am: Breakout session 1
11:30am-1:00pm: Lunch and activities
1:00-2:00pm: BAMM Slam (Youth Poetry Keynote)
2:15pm-3:15pm: Breakout session 2
3:15pm-3:45pm: Closing

History

School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs can be a haven of safety and support for LGBTQ+ young people and their allies. In 2014, MOASH was awarded a 3-year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) to build the capacity of GSA clubs in schools across Michigan. MOASH conducted assessments of GSA functioning, developed a model program for GSA organizational development, provided in-person and technical assistance, and created an annual statewide summit for LGBTQIA+ youth. While the grant term has ended, MOASH continues to host the annual summit with the generous sponsorship of Grand Valley State University, and provides assistance to GSA clubs and adult allies of LGBTQ+ students where possible.