13 Netflix Picks That Have Super Hot, Realistic LGBTQ Sex Scenes

Who needs porn when you have Netflix?
Graphic by Cristina Cianci

When I was younger, most LGBTQ sex scenes I saw didn't show much beyond two people passionately making out, a little hand-over-the-crotch action, and tight shots of faces moaning. (They were all PG-13—maybe the R-rated ones were a little more gratuitous, but I was too nervous to search for them on my family computer.) As a gay teenager still in the closet, these muted portrayals of queer sexuality only furthered the idea that my identity was something I needed to hide.

Thankfully, as cinematography has evolved, so has mainstream media's portrayal of intimacy across the spectrum of sexuality. Here for it? Yes, I am. My hope is that these graphic, raw sex scenes will help those still exploring their identities to understand their sexualities are completely normal, no matter who they prefer.

It's gotten to that point where these days, sex scenes on Netflix can be more of a turn-on for me than actual porn. Don't get it twisted: Porn is great when I want to see straight-up nudity and pretend that I don't need buckets of lube to make anal sex pleasurable. But there's something really erotic about watching a sexual relationship blossom after a romantic (often dramatic) series of events that don't begin with a boring porn opener like, "Hey, I'm Tyler—want to f*ck?"

Here, I've rounded up TV shows and films with the hottest LGBTQ sex scenes I could find on Netflix. Full disclosure: As a gay man, I have absolutely zero authority over whether the female stimulation depicted is accurate—or fun. So if you have strong feelings about anything below, I'm all ears. In the meantime, I'm going to clear my Netflix queue before my next GNI (gays' night in).


The L Word

There's no way my words can do this groundbreaking TV series justice. Between 2004 and 2009, The L Word gave the world a modern view into lesbian lives.

If the promise of sensual sex scenes isn't enticing enough for you to give it a try (do yourself a favor and watch the scene in the first episode where Bette and Tina hook up), the show's nuanced depiction of lesbian culture might be.

Netflix/The Weinstein Company


Carol is an 2015 drama set in the 1950s about two women who fall in love after meeting each other in a Manhattan department store. I'll be straight with you: The oral sex scene in this movie isn't super wow-worthy on its own. But the build-up that leads to this climactic moment will make you yell, "FINALLY," from your couch. (Really sorry to whoever lives in the apartment below me.)

Netflix/Yale Productions

King Cobra

Loosely based on the early career of male porn star Brent Corrigan, this 2016 movie gives a behind-the-scenes view into the adult film industry. Did I mention that Dave Franco and Pretty Little Liars' Keegan Allen share a hot, rough sexual encounter? Yeah, you'll probably want to see that.


Orange Is the New Black

I'm not a woman, and I've never been to prison, so I can't attest to the reality of OINTB's countless sex scenes. But I can say there's something about the raw clitoral stimulation sequences—especially the ones that aren't set to any background music—that stirs something inside me.

Netflix/Goal Post Film/Screen Australia

Holding the Man

Sounds a bit like a gay cliché, but this 2015 film (which is also based on a memoir by Australian actor Timothy Conigrave) highlights the romance between a high school drama student and classic jock.

In one particular car sex scene, they utter the words "Ahh, gentle," and "Slowly—I said slowly!" while attempting to have anal sex for the first time. Doesn't sound very sexy, right? That's what made it so memorable.

Anal sex requires a fair amount of coordination with a partner to make sure the partner on receiving end is OK. This scene was the most realistic in the movie. As a bonus, there are plenty of others that are major turn-ons, too.

Netflix/Serendipity Point Films

Below Her Mouth

Normally, when I'm searching for a sexy LGBTQ movie, I fast-forward to the good parts. Don't judge me—we've all done it. Scout's honor, I have never been more aroused by two women having sex than from this movie. The sex scene I watched to conduct "research" for this article lasted more than five minutes.

Sex scenes normally last maybe two minutes in cinema. This scene did not cut corners. Instead, it walked me through the initial body contact to foreplay to eventual intercourse. Because there was no rush to finish, my senses had more time to really focus on the passion and the deep connection between the women. Emotions combined with a drawn-out sex sequence make for an intense experience.



The Netflix series premiered in 2015 and made waves for its trippy storyline about eight psychically linked strangers . Unfortunately, the show has since been canceled, but it featured one of the hottest orgy scenes I've ever seen on the small screen. Need I say more?

Netflix/Pony Films

People You May Know

You know how in porn it seems like every guy has incredible stamina that keeps him going until the 23-minute long video is over? Well, as many of us know, that happening IRL is a rare sexual phenomenon.

In this 2016 dramatic comedy movie, there's a scene where one guy goes limp while another dude is riding him. It actually made me scream, "Yes! So real! So accurate!" They never finished—which has likely happened to us all more times than we'd like to admit. People You May Know may not be the hottest movie in a conventional sense, but it was incredibly relatable—and kind of sexy in an earnest way.

Netflix/IFC Films

Room in Rome

In this 2010 drama-romance film, two women share a passionate night in a hotel room together. They pass the time by talking naked, looking longingly at each other naked, or making sweet love naked. Did I mention they're naked for pretty much the entire film?



Since it first premiered in 2011, Shameless has captivated its loyal audience with the Gallagher family's dysfunctional antics.

TBH, I haven't really kept up with this show lately. But I do know that Ian and Mickey's early relationship—though devastating in so many ways—had a few sexual moments that made me glad to have watched this Showtime series alone.

In one heartbreaking scene, Ian and Mickey are having sex when Mickey's dad walks in, beats them both, and forces Mickey to have sex with a woman as Ian watches. Brutal, but honest. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. While the circumstances aren't the sexiest, the big risk (and larger thrill) of inviting someone over while your parents are home rang way too true for me.

Netflix/Strand Releasing

Stranger by the Lake

I like to think of this 2014 French film as a portrayal of cruising (where you explore a specific area that's secretly known for picking up men looking for hookups) before apps like Grindr and Scruff were ever coded.

The idea of public sex stresses me out to the point of total limpness, but this movie opens on a rendezvous at a public lake, and it's honestly really hot. Worth noting: This film isn't rated, and for good reason. One review on Rotten Tomatoes says of the film, "This lake is a sexual refuge, about to be stained by sin and blood."


Queer as Folk

I dare you to watch a single episode of this series, which aired between 2000 and 2005, without feeling—ahem—very excited. If Brian and Justin's tumultuous relationship doesn't make your heart skip a beat, Melanie and Lindsey's infamous bathtub scene will.

Netflix/Wolfe Releasing

Kiss Me

This 2011 Swedish movie revolves around an engaged woman whose relationships and emotions grow increasingly complicated after she falls in love with her soon-to-be step sister. During their first intense sexual encounter, you'll hear such vivid breathing, grunting, and moaning that you could close your eyes and propel yourself into a fantasy.