Some myths about lesbian sex include:
Each partner plays a gender role in the relationship: For example, one partner always penetrates the other. Lesbians, like all other people, may embrace a wide range of roles. Sometimes, one partner might always be the one who penetrates the other, but often partners switch roles or have different types of sex.
All lesbians have sex by scissoring: There are many ways to have lesbian sex, and many lesbians never scissor.
Lesbian sex is safe: While pregnancy is not possible if both partners were female at birth, it can still be possible with a trans woman. Also, lesbians can and do transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs). People should not presume to be at low or no risk based on their sexual orientation.
Lesbian sex cannot be violent, and there is no such thing as lesbian rape: Lesbians can and do rape other women, and research suggests that intimate partner violence occurs among lesbian couples.
Lesbians feel disinterested or lose interest in sex: This myth draws upon sexist stereotypes about women’s sexuality. Like everyone else, lesbians’ interest in sex varies from person to person, and across the lifespan.
Being lesbian means someone was born female, or cannot be transgender: Gender identity is not the same as sexuality or assigned sex. The gender label a person receives at birth does not matter. A person labeled male or female at birth can still identify as lesbian.
