When two dads, Patrick and Carlos, noticed a glaring lack of visibility for queer families, they decided to take matters into their own hands. But instead of starting a nonprofit, they asked a bold question: “What if we built a business that gave back to our community from day one?” This idea, combined with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, led to the birth of Bottoms Up Movement, a brand that’s not just selling products but also challenging norms and funding a mission to make parenthood more accessible for the LGBTQ+ community. From crafting a business model where every sale fuels a mission to launching an unapologetically queer brand, they’re proving that giving back doesn’t have to be a once-a-year affair—it can be woven into the very fabric of a company. We caught up with Patrick & Carlos to ask about their journey and learn what’s in store for the future.

Richard Jones: Tell us a little bit about your background and what you were doing before BUM.

Patrick & Carlos: Pat spent 12 years at Meta helping the world figure out how to sell things on social media. Carlos spent his career making magic happen behind the scenes—starting as a Broadway stage manager and later running events at places like Radio City Music Hall and Lincoln Center. 

RJ: What led you to start (BUM) and your products?

P&C: It started with our daughter. When she was born, we realized how rare it still is to see families with two dads, and how much of the “explaining” would fall on her little shoulders. That didn’t sit right with us. We wanted to inspire more queer folks to pursue parenthood and help make it financially possible.

So we asked ourselves: what if we built a business that gave back to our community from day one? Not a rainbow-washed once-a-year kind of thing, but a model where every single sale fuels the mission.

And then came the product brainstorm. We asked: what’s queer-coded, but also universal? Lube shot straight to the top. Every gay man has it in his drawer, and plenty of straight people do too. At first we were like, “Oh god, we can’t launch a lube company.” But when we unpacked that hesitation, we realized the truth: our asses deserve the same attention vaginas get from mainstream beauty and wellness brands. They’re sexy, they’re functional, and they need care. So why not create a brand that’s unapologetically queer, fun, delivers damn good products, and meaningfully gives back to the community consuming our products? That’s how (BUM) was born.

RJ: What have been some of the business hurdles?

P&C: Well, first—balance. Carlos is still juggling multiple jobs, Pat left his career to focus on (BUM), and we’re raising a toddler in the middle of it all. Some days it feels like we’re running a company, a daycare, and a circus all at once.

Then there’s social media. We’ve had ads banned, posts shadow-banned, even whole accounts taken down. Meanwhile, straight brands sling the similar products without a hiccup. It’s infuriating. But we keep finding workarounds because queer stories and queer products deserve visibility.

And, to be real, there’s also a healthy distrust of businesses in our own community—because too many brands have engaged in exploitative practices and just see Pride for profit. We get that. That’s why we show up in person, put our faces out there, and remind people that behind (BUM) it’s just us: two dads, hustling for our kid and our community.

RJ: What has surprised you most about the journey?

P&C: We’ve always believed we had something that would connect with people, but just how much people get it has been a lot of fun. We’ll be walking around in (BUM) hats and strangers stop us to ask about the logo. At events, the conversation almost always shifts to family building, chosen family, or someone sharing their own story. So many first time meetings end with hugs.   For a company that sells butt scrub and lube, people are connecting to the brand deeper than they expect and we ever expected.

Another surprise has been how creative it’s felt. Everything the consumer sees has been built by us from formulas, designing packaging, shooting content – it’s more like making art than running a business. Sure, there’s the boring stuff like accounting, but most of it feels like we’re creating something fun and meaningful out of thin air.

RJ: Do you do anything specific to relax and recharge?

P&C: Traveling for bear events has been a surprising recharge button. TBRU, Bear Week in P-Town, Key West—it’s work, but it’s also play. Plus, our daughter gets quality time with her Mimi (grandmother) while we sneak off to be beach bums, eat good food, and hit the spa.

We’re also mani-pedi enthusiasts. Carlos has gotten into nail art—bear flag colors, Pride rainbows, bumble bees, you name it. Maison even joins in sometimes with her own painted nails, which has become one of our sweetest family rituals.

RJ: What’s next in the BUM journey?

P&C: Biggest news: (BUM) Gummies are coming. People have been begging us for a gummy option, and they’re finally here. Two gummies = prep time down to five minutes, plus they pair perfectly with our Cleanse product whether you’re prepping for play or just want better gut health.

We’re also “growing up” as a brand—new website, sharper look, and delegating some of the stuff we’ve been DIYing to pros. But at our core, it’s still us: queer to the bone, mission-driven, and ready to keep making products that make your bum (and your community) feel good.

www.bottomsupmovement.com