Vuelio 2020 Influencer Awards. Taking Part Rocks
As if we’re finalists on the Vuelio Influencer Awards!? How did this even happen!? We’re in the LGBTQ+ category, which I’m delighted with – if nothing else we’re with some of my favourites who I can’t wait to support. I even voted for two of them! This year, the awards will be entirely online, from the nomination process through to the judging day and the awards night itself. You can follow all the action using the hashtag #OIAwards20
Other accounts in our category include;
Thank you firstly, to anyone that actually voted for us. As you will know TwoDads UK took a very different path than what it was designed for back in 2017. Whilst working to destigmatise UK Surrogacy, and continue to show everyone what ‘this’ family looks like remains the overall aim, we’ve taken on some huge projects since we began.
Our Journey
Our journey timeline can be found here, but in short. We firstly tackled NHS Guidance for Healthcare Professionals, when dealing with Surrogates and Intended Parents at the end of 2017. This is gave us the bug to challenge hard and push for equality, especially when it concerned Surrogacy families and their Surrogates. We ensured our voice and Surrogacy journey was heard in crafting this document. In-between this we got involved in some fun brand campaigns with the likes of a Christmas ad for Sainsburys, Audi, a Channel 4 documentary with Kieron Richardson and a bunch of online stuff with Save The Children, Vodafone and more recently Cow & Gate in their inclusive ‘Love Don’t Judge’ ft Stacey Solomon.
Next was the APPG Surrogacy Law Reform at The Houses of Parliament. Sharing our lived experience to help shape a ‘new law’, which lead on to us supporting The Law Commissioners ‘Building families through Surrogacy – a new law’. Travelling around the UK being on Parenting forums and discussing the paper during the consultation.
We continue to support those on a fertility journey via TwoDads UK, over 300 so far, and we now work with several key fertility clinics who specialise in Gay Surrogacy. We’re currently working hard raising awareness for Male Fertility too, which is something absolutely needed. It really is the best job ever. It’s why in 2019 I decided to leave my comfort zone and work full time as a Fertility LGBTQ blogger/influencer – it’s quite the niche! I have the most amount of fun playing with my kids on camera for a living, its the work/life balance I needed, and there’s more new missions to come.
The Modern Family Show 2021
In November 2019 we attended The Fertility Show. A massive exhibition in London which supports the fertility sector, TwoDads UK was exhibiting. To say we were mobbed was an understatement, it was clear the LGBTQ community needed more support. So we decided to do exactly that. The Modern Family Show was born. The ONLY UK LGBTQ+ family building show, designed to educate and support those on a parenting pathway. Whether that’s Adoption, Fostering, Surrogacy (UK and International), IVF, Sperm and Egg Donation, Co-Parenting and Fertility Preservation for the Trans community. The Show sold out in 3 weeks from an exhibitor perspective, and we managed to get key sponsors on board. Our charity partners are Mermaids and Diversity Role Models, which we’re delighted about. The show now takes place on the 18th September 2021. After a couple of date changes due to COVID, and tickets are available here.
2020 and beyond…
Lockdown arrived and we decided to continue pushing forward plans we’d been sitting on for the last 18 months. To launch our own Surrogacy organisation, with a difference. That’s when My Surrogacy Journey was created, launching in January 2021. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve pulled off. The Advisory Board alone is jaw dropping; so many leading Doctors, Scientists, Clinicians, Lawyers, Counsellors, Surrogates, and even parents via Surrogacy are on on board to make this a reality.
So as I look back on the last 3 years, I hear the cliche bellowing ‘it’s not the winning that matters, but the taking part’. They’re right actually… Right now I couldn’t agree more, the last three years of ‘taking part’ have honestly been some of my absolutely key highlights of my life. Being someones Husband, navigating the journey of a step-dad, finally becoming a Dad and obviously being a bit of an activist.
Taking Part Rocks.
Good luck to everyone taking part on the 20th November, No matter the results, we’re all fabulous. 😉
Michael Johnson-Ellis
Michael Johnson-Ellis is Dad to Talulah and Duke, step Dad to Katie, and husband to Wes. Since having children Michael changed his career from a stressful city job, to being an award winning Surrogacy advocate, supporting those who are struggling to conceive or are from the LGBTQ community, and dream of parenthood. Michael blogs and documents his life as a parent via TwoDadsUK® on Facebook and Instagram. Michael and Wes are both founders of TwoDadsUK®(www.TwoDadsUK.com), The Modern Family Show 2021 (the only UK LGBTQ family building event, and the latest Surrogacy not for profit organisation My Surrogacy Journey®(www.mysurrogacyjourney.com). Michael also writes for IVF Babble, the world’s largest online fertility magazine and has recently established IVF Babble LGBT. Michael recently was awarded one of the twenty two Census purple plaques, recognising his work to the trying to conceive community. TwoDadsUK has collaborated with brands such as Cow & Gate Baby Club, Audi, Save The Children, Vodafone, Sainsburys, and appeared on TV such as BBC Breakfast, CBeebies and Channel 4 to name a few.
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