20 Greatest Lesbian Sex Scenes on TV Ranked

We're right in the heart of summer, and as the temperature rises outside, we've decided it's time to celebrate when it also rises on our TV screens. We've already voted for our favorite TV couple of the summer, but now we've just gotta remember the best of times between all of our favorite couples on the small screen. From The L Wordthrowbacks to Orange is the New Black's latest season, here are our favorite sex scenes on TV, ranked as we see fit. And if you don't see yours or feel your personal rankings are reflected, feel free to shout out in the comments! And just to clear things up, we're counting either full-on sex or what's as closely implied as sex as possible. ABC Family can only give us so much after all, but what it does give us is glorious. Happy scrolling!

You can vote for your faves on the poll on the last page. And if you don't like our picks, you can write in your own. 

20. Kenya sees beyond Stahma's exterior (Defiance season 1, episode 7)

Stahma was the very model of a composed, kept wife until she confronted local brothel madam Kenya about her husband's frequent visits. In Kenya, Stahma found a sympathetic ear...and other body parts. 

19. Rachel and April make the most of a bathroom break (House of Lies season 1, episode 1)

Not only did this slick Showtime series bring Kristen Bell back to our screens, its very first episode featured a show-stealing bathroom tryst between guest stars Anna Camp and Megalyn Echikunwoke. 

(RELATED: 50 Greatest Girl/Girl TV Kisses of All Time) 

18. Emily and Naomi get away from it all (Skins (UK) season 3, episode 6)

From its inception Skins was a controversial take on teen sexuality, yet it wasn't until the third season that a lesbian couple was featured. Fortunately, it was worth the wait for this scene where Emily and Naomi take a trip to the local forest and embrace the exploration the series was all about.

17. Ilana tries to get it on with her doppelganger (Broad City season 2, episode 9)

Ilana often discusses her same-sex romances on Broad City, but we finally got to see her in action when she and her doppelganger (in the form of Alia Shawkat) tried to make it work. In the end, having sex with almost herself was just too strange for Ilana, but these memories are worth the discovery. 

16. Tara and Naomi prove cage fighting is just foreplay (True Blood season 4, episode 1)

While Sookie was literally off with the fairies, her BFF Tara left her old life behind and became a cage fighter who is dating the competition. Because sure, why not replace short shorts and an apron with lingerie and wrestling a beautiful woman? Actually, this choice makes absolute sense to us.

15. Callie and Arizona break the rules (Grey's Anatomy, season 11, episode 5)

These two are so very on-again-off-again, but when they're on, they're on. Esepcially here, when a vow of sexless silence clearly didn't go as planned.

(RELATED: 50 Greatest Girl/Girl Movie Kisses of All Time Ranked)

14. Alex and Piper have hate sex (Orange is the New Black season 3, episode 2)

We could pretty much make an entire list of just Alex/Piper sex scenes alone, but this most recent one might stay with us forever. We imagined it might be hard for those girls to get over their issues when the 3rd season rolled around, but they figured it out. Oh, how they figured it out.

13. Nomi and Amanita's introduction is more than memorable (Sense8 season 1, episode 1)

Ain't no introduction to a cute queer couple like an immediate, very naked sex scene. And it wasn't even like this moment was too good to be true. Nomanita really did prove to be one of our new fave couples of all time!

12. Gaia and Lucretia forever (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena)

We may still be waiting for the Xena fantasies of our formative years to play out on screen (we're looking at you, reboot) but Lucy Lawless getting down and dirty with serial queer portrayer Jaime Murray almost makes us forget we ever wanted anything else. 

11. Emily and Paige get it on noir-style (Pretty Little Liars, season 4, epsiode 19)

ABC Family can only go so far when it comes to intimacy, but when they do, they hit all the right marks. If only more sex scenes were as classically beautiful as this one. Paily perfection strikes again!

10. Spashley consumates their relationship (South of Nowhere, season 1, episode 11)

Spashley was the heart of queer teen TV romance for a few years in the mid 2000s, and their love will live on for a lifetime. It was pretty magical when the two finally took things to the next level, even if we didn't get to see too much of it. It's the thought that counts.

9. Kalinda and Lana get their 'genital maipulation' on (The Good Wife, season 3, episode 21)

This scene literally required checking in with the network about how much could be seen. In the end, we feel they did a pretty substantial job for network television. We approve. 

8. Max and Eleanor are perfect for a second (Black Sails, season 1, episode 1)

This couple burned so amazingly bright before crashing and burning on Black Sails, but we cherish their time together. Especially this particular time together. Sometimes pilot sex scenes just get it right.

7. Bo and Lauren bid a most fond fairwell (Lost Girl, season 2, episode 6)

In fear that they might never see each other again, Bo and Lauren's potential tragedy turned into one of the best sex scenes on TV. And certainly the best sex scene on the show, according to this ranking. 

6. Stef and Lena go as far as ABC Family will allow (The Fosters, season 1, episode 18)

Stef and Lena are no strangers to kissing and cuddling on The Fosters (as we've previously documented), but this time they took things a little further. Hopefully we get to see more canoodling and less concerning arguments from these two in the future!

5. Bette and Tina welcome us to the future of our TV schedules (The L Word, season 1, episode 1 (part 2))

You never forget your first (Bette/Tina sex scene on The L Word). Our highest hopes for the pilot came to fruition when Bette and Tina demonstrated their compatibility and kept going strong for years to come. Hehe. 

4. Cat and Frankie make up for lost time (Lip Service season 1, episode 6)

Britain's lesbian-focused Lip Service brought more lesbian sex to our screens in its 12 episodes than most shows ever will. The show's first season finale sees architect Cat and trainwreck Frankie, exes who can't quit each other, finally acting on their rekindled attraction and the results are explosive.

2. Poussey and her ex-girlfriend debunk scissoring (Orange is the New Black, season 2, episode 6)

This was #1 on our seasons 1 & 2 of OITNB sex scenes, and for good reason. These two absolute cuties won our hearts before crushing them and also taught the world a think or two about how realistic lesbian sex works. Hopefully Poussey will find love again soon!

1. Alice and Dana win the L Word sex scene-off (The L Word season 2, episode 5)

At one point, we ranked the every sex scene in The L Word, and this Alice/Dana position-palooza took the cake. And the whipped cream on top. Literally. 'Nuff said.

Vote for your favorite scene on the next page. If you don't like ours you can write in your own.