Position guides tend to default to one body configuration and treat everything else as an afterthought. The actual mechanics of what works well are genuinely different depending on the bodies and act involved, so this splits it out rather than flattening it into one generic list.
Positions for lesbian couples
- Scissoring (tribadism). Genital-to-genital contact without penetration — legs interlocked, rocking or grinding motion controlled by both partners together. This is a non-penetrative act specifically, closely related to what our frotting guide covers in more depth, including the safety and risk considerations that apply here too.
- Face-sitting. One partner seated over the other's face or body — gives the seated partner control over pressure and pace, and works well combined with hands or a toy from the partner underneath.
- Strap-on positions. Once a harness is involved, the same depth and angle considerations from any penetrative position guide apply — missionary-style, from behind, or seated all work with a harness the same way they would otherwise. Base compatibility matters more than most people expect; see our dildo buying guide for what to check.
- Mutual, toy-assisted positions. Side-lying facing each other, using a dual-motor or double-ended toy simultaneously rather than adapting a single-user product — see our rabbit vibrators guide for dual-stimulation options that work for shared use too.
Positions for gay male couples
- Anal positions. The same core positions and pacing considerations covered in our anal sex positions guide apply directly here — depth control and comfort matter more than which specific position you start with.
- Mutual masturbation and frotting positions. Side-lying or face-to-face, non-penetrative genital contact — see our frotting guide for the mechanics and safety considerations specific to this.
- 69 and mutual oral positions. Simultaneous oral, lying in opposite directions — works well for couples who want to skip a "turn-based" structure; see our oral sex guide for pacing and comfort tips that apply regardless of position.
Positions and adaptations for trans and nonbinary bodies
This is the category generic guides skip most often, so it's worth being direct: there's no single "trans position," and what works depends heavily on individual anatomy, hormone therapy status, dysphoria and euphoria triggers, and personal comfort — not a fixed script. A few things worth knowing rather than a list of named positions:
- Position affects comfort with binders and gaffs. Face-down or weight-bearing-on-the-chest positions can be uncomfortable while wearing a binder — side-lying or seated positions tend to put less direct pressure there.
- Front-hole and strap-on options aren't mutually exclusive. Some people use one, the other, both depending on the day, or neither — position choice should follow from what's being used, not the reverse.
- Packing changes what's comfortable during penetrative positions. If packing, positions that don't require removing or repositioning a packer mid-activity are worth prioritizing if that's a comfort concern; our inclusive toys guide covers packing-and-play products designed around this specifically.
- Ask rather than assume. More than any other category on this page, checking in directly about what feels good and what doesn't matters here — see our consent check-ins guide for low-friction ways to do that without breaking the moment.
A general note
None of the groupings above are exhaustive, and comfort with any specific position is genuinely individual regardless of which category you fall into. If you're newer to a specific act mentioned here — anal, oral, or non-penetrative contact — start with the dedicated guide linked in that section rather than jumping straight to position variations.