Fifteen years ago, Frank and BJ met by chance on a patio in Toronto’s Gay Village. They happened to be wearing the same shoes.

“I see you have good taste in shoes!” Frank joked — and just like that, their love story began. They couldn’t have imagined then that they’d one day be married, raising a son, and traveling the world together as a two-dad family.

“Our love of travel is one of the things that brought us together,” they said. “And we promised that wouldn’t change once Milo was born.”

Their relationship has evolved through major life moments — from BJ navigating coming out to his family, to Frank completing rehab. “We met at a time when we really needed each other,” they shared. Over the years, they’ve deepened their communication and strengthened their partnership, learning through every challenge and triumph.

This year, they’re living a long-held dream: taking a global sabbatical and exploring Southeast Asia as a family. The trip was originally planned for their 10th anniversary, but the pandemic put things on pause. “We’ve been saving for four years, and we wanted to show Milo different cultures firsthand.”

So, how did they make it all work — leaving their lives behind in Toronto for a year?

As two educators, Frank and BJ took advantage of a unique program offered by their school board: a deferred salary program called “4 over 5.” For the past four years, they were paid 80% of their salary while the school board held back the remaining 20%. In their fifth year, they receive that saved income and get the full year off — with their teaching positions held for them when they return.

In addition to this financial strategy, they also put aside additional savings and rented their house on Airbnb to help cover costs along the way.

But the logistics didn’t stop there.

“Leaving for a year is a big undertaking and there was a lot of planning involved,” they said. “From getting our house ready to rent, preparing all the necessary documentation, getting vaccinations, deciding what to pack, and planning the itinerary — it was a full-time job before we even left!”

For the first eight months, Milo attended an international school in Thailand, where he made friends with kids from all around the world. The last four months of their trip have been more nomadic — exploring different parts of Asia while Milo learns hands-on about languages, cultures, foods, traditions, historical sites, and even numeracy through all the different currencies.

“The hardest part was saying goodbye (or more of a ‘see you later’) to our family, friends, and our dog!” they shared. A close friend cared for their pup for half the year, and Frank’s parents took over for the second half. “We FaceTime with him, but he gets confused when he hears our voices! We can’t wait to see him. We miss his cuddles!!”

Traveling as a two-dad family has come with both heartwarming and eye-opening experiences.
“In North America or Europe, we get stared at because we’re two dads. But here, we get stared at because we’re foreigners — they don’t even care that we’re a same-sex couple,” they laughed. “People want to take photos with us!”

One unforgettable moment came in Korea, when five schoolgirls approached them in a grocery store. After learning that Frank and BJ were husbands, not brothers, one girl said, “So lucky. Two fathers. I don’t have a father — just me and mom.” Curious about how Milo could have two dads, the couple showed them his birth photo and explained who was in it. “They were so sweet. One of the girls smiled and said, ‘Love is love.’”

Their advice to other LGBTQ+ couples pursuing parenthood — especially through surrogacy?

“Stay focused and work hard toward your goal. Do your research. When we started our journey 11 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of information or support. But now, thanks to places like GWK Academy, you don’t have to go it alone. And if you ever need someone to talk to, reach out — we’re always happy to help.”

Frank, BJ, and Milo are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in Bali — relaxing on the beach and designing their own rings in a jewelry-making class. “Because who doesn’t love bling?”

From matching shoes to matching rings, Frank and BJ have built a beautiful life — full of love, laughter, and adventure.