With new brand, BUM, these gay dads are on a mission to build more LGBTQ+ families

Married couple Patrick and Carlos Dolan began their family planning journey on their wedding day.

"At our wedding, instead of gifts, we asked for contributions to our surrogacy journey fund," said Patrick Dolan. "But even with the generosity of family and friends and two great jobs, we still had to take out a loan to be able to afford bringing our daughter into the world."

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the dream of building a family can feel financially out of reach. Domestic adoption can cost an estimated $20,000-$45,000, and surrogacy can range from $140,000-$220,000. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the Dolans conceived an idea to help ease the path to parenthood for other LGBTQ+ couples.

Bottoms Up Movement (BUM), a recently launched beauty, intimacy, and hygiene brand co-founded by the Dolans, is on a mission to make family building more affordable for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking to become parents. To achieve this, a portion of every sale is dedicated to nonprofits aligned with their mission of family building.

At its launch, BUM has partnered with Men Having Babies and HelpUsAdopt.org. Men Having Babies provides educational resources and a grant program to assist prospective parents who are gay, trans, queer, or bisexual men in achieving biological parenting. HelpUsAdopt.org supports domestic, international, and foster care adoptions through their grant programs.

Bottom-Friendly Products That Break the Stigma

The idea for BUM emerged as the Dolans thought about a business model that would serve the LGBTQ+ community and have the potential to scale beyond it. Initially hesitant about creating a lube due to its sexual nature, they realized the need to break the stigma around such products.

The name BUM came from an offhand remark by Patrick: "Someone in our community needs to start a social movement of Bottoms and normalize bum love, beauty, and hygiene." That someone turned out to be Patrick and Carlos themselves.

BUM has introduced three core products: a silicone lubricant, exfoliating coffee scrub, and psyllium husk fiber supplement. These products are designed with the gay community in mind but are versatile enough for broader appeal.

• The Coffee (BUM) Scrub ($54 for 8 oz jar; $15 for 2 oz jar): This scrub can be used anywhere below the neckline as part of a regular beauty routine. With its decadent scent and flavor, it aims to enhance intimate experiences. It contains jojoba, vitamin E, and rosehip to moisturize the skin, reduce stretch marks, signs of aging, and blemishes.
• The Silicone (BUM) Lube ($24 for 4oz bottle): A premium, long-lasting, water-resistant lubricant perfect for solo or couple play. "A little goes a long way is what our customers keep raving about," says Carlos Dolan, co-founder of BUM.
• The Mixed Berry (BUM) Cleanse ($35): A fiber supplement that benefits gut health and reduces bloating. "It keeps you regular and also ready for whatever fun the day may bring," the co-founders say. It is naturally sweetened with stevia extract and is vegan and non-GMO.

All products are available at BottomsUpMovement.com, with free shipping for subscribers. Subscriptions start as low as $20 per month. The founders plan to expand their line to include a water-based lube, additional size variations, and a body lotion to complement the scrub, expected to launch later this year.

BUM's values–PRIDE, FAMILY FIRST, HAVE FUN, and GIVE BACK–can be found on all of their are products. "We’ve put on all of our packing, 'Can a bottle of lube, scrub, or cleanse change the world?'” Patrick said. “We truly believe that we can make a difference. From our family to your family, for more families!"

For more information about BUM and its products, visit BottomsUpMovement.com and follow @bottomsupmovement on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.