For Dom and Jer, the couple behind DadsTimesTwo, the morning they learned about their Webby Awards nomination didn’t start with a celebration. It started with disbelief.
“We just sat there staring at each other,” they said. “Like, wait… is this real?”
The pair, who have built a growing online community by documenting their path to parenthood through surrogacy, are now nominated in the Kids and Parenting category. What began as a way to share answers they couldn’t easily find has evolved into a platform that resonates far beyond their own story.
From Questions to Community
When Dom and Jer first explored surrogacy, they found themselves navigating a maze with few clear signposts. They didn’t know anyone personally who had gone through the process, and reliable information felt scattered or incomplete.
So they started documenting everything.
What began as a small digital diary quickly gained traction. Their account, DadsTimesTwo, became a resource not only for gay couples, but for anyone facing fertility challenges or considering alternative paths to parenthood.
That openness became the foundation of their voice online, honest, direct, and grounded in lived experience.
Parenthood, Reframed
Surrogacy shaped more than just their journey to becoming parents. It influenced how they show up, both offline and online.
The process, they say, demanded patience and trust at every step. That perspective carried into how they approach raising their family and sharing it publicly. They’re intentional about what they post, choosing moments that reflect both joy and reality.
That balance has helped build trust with their audience. Early on, engagement came with curiosity and, at times, criticism. Over time, that shifted. What once felt like a comment section has become something closer to a support network.
Followers now share their own milestones, ask questions, and connect with others in similar situations. The comment threads read less like reactions and more like conversations.
Why Visibility Still Matters
Despite growing representation across media, LGBTQ+ parents remain underrepresented in many traditional parenting spaces. Dom and Jer are aware of that gap because they’ve experienced it firsthand.
“Representation helps normalize it,” they explained. “It shows kids their family is just as valid.”
That visibility feels especially urgent now. While progress has been made, they point to moments where it feels like that progress is fragile. Their response is simple: keep showing up.
By sharing their day-to-day life, they’re contributing to a broader cultural shift, one where families like theirs are not seen as exceptions, but as part of the norm.
Turning a Nomination Into a Movement
Now in the public voting phase of the Webbys, Dom and Jer are leaning on the very community they helped build. Their approach hasn’t been flashy. Instead, they’ve focused on transparency, sharing what the nomination means and inviting their audience to be part of it.
The response has been strong. Support from platforms like Gays With Kids and Gay Family Values has helped amplify their reach, while followers have rallied with votes and shares.
They’re also realistic about the competition. Compared to other nominees, they’re working with a smaller platform. That contrast has made the support feel even more significant.
More Than a Trophy
For Dom and Jer, winning would be meaningful, but not just for the accolade itself.
“It would show that these stories matter,” they said.
Recognition at that level would signal that LGBTQ+ families belong in mainstream parenting conversations, not as a niche topic but as part of the broader narrative.
It’s also about access. Increased visibility can open doors for future creators, making it easier for others to share their stories without starting from scratch.
Looking Ahead
The couple isn’t slowing down. If anything, the nomination has reinforced their long-term goals.
They want to expand their platform beyond storytelling. That could include creating resources for aspiring parents or even launching initiatives to help offset the financial barriers of starting a family.
At its core, their mission remains the same: make the process less isolating for others.
For those just beginning their own journey, their advice is simple, don’t let uncertainty stop you.
“There’s more support out there than you think,” they said. “And your story can make a bigger impact than you realize.”
Want to support Dom and Jer? Cast your vote for DadsTimesTwo at the Webby Awards here.
