​To celebrate the debut of The Everything Else Tote, created with Dusen Dusen, we’re launching Parenting &—a Q&A series spotlighting the incredible person behind the parent, in all their multitudes. Because adding ‘parent’ to the bio doesn’t shrink who you are—it multiplies it.

And the “&”? That’s where it gets good.

Meet Jesse Sulli: full-time dad of infant twins and a teenager &… content creator, partner to Francesca Farago, home project guy, fitness junkie—among other things.

What’s a part of you that didn’t disappear when you became a parent—but got even louder? 

After having Arlo, I decided to come out for the first time. It amplified who I truly was, and gave me the courage to tell the world. I decided I’d never dull who I am, not only for myself but for my kids as well.

What’s something people assumed you gave up when you had kids—but you didn’t? 

My activism. I think people expected me to stay quiet now that I’m a parent, but instead I got louder in order to do my part to pave a safe and accepting world for my children and others children. 

What’s one rule you’ve broken—on purpose—that made parenting feel more like yours?

The rule I broke immediately was the idea kids are a thing we own. My children didn’t choose to be born, I chose to have them. They aren’t something I own, they’re someone I love. I guide and teach them with the best I know, but my job is to make sure their path in life is safe and protected, not to pave it myself. I also will never give into “gender norms” based on their sex. For example, “girls are so emotional and love princesses”. My kids can be anyone they want, and like anything they want.