Frot

Concept and etymology

The modern meaning of frotting took shape during a debate within the gay male community about the role of anal sex. Some who oppose anal sex and promote frotting argue that anal sex should be completely avoided. One perspective suggested that if gay men could be convinced to view anal sex as "kinky" and less respectable—as it was seen in the 1950s and 1960s—rather than as a "vanilla" practice, its popularity might decrease, possibly leading to lower HIV rates. In those earlier decades, gay men who preferred mutual masturbation and fellatio sometimes used the derogatory term "brownie queen" for those who enjoyed anal sex.

Around the late 1990s, gay activist Bill Weintraub began actively promoting and recommending the specific meaning of "penis-to-penis rubbing" as frotting on internet forums, claiming he coined the term. He stated he avoids the word "frottage" because it is a fake French word that can refer to any erotic rubbing, whereas "frot" always means phallus-to-phallus sex. Weintraub believes this genital-to-genital contact is what actual sex is. Other names for frotting include frictation, sword-fighting, Oxford style, Princeton rub, and Ivy League rub.

Sexual practices

Frotting is a form of non-penetrative sex where two partners rub their penises together. This action can be pleasurable because it stimulates the frenulum nerve bundle on the underside of each shaft, just below the urethral opening on the glans, creating mutual and simultaneous genital sensation. Because frotting avoids penetration, it lowers the chance of transmitting sexually transmitted infections that require direct mucous membrane contact with pre-ejaculate or semen.

HIV, for instance, needs such contact, and studies show frotting carries no risk of HIV transmission. However, other STIs like HPV, which can cause genital warts, and pubic lice, or crabs, can still spread through frotting. An HPV vaccine is available. Some gay men and other men who have sex with men choose frotting or mutual masturbation over anal sex for reasons including greater pleasure, a sense of affection, preserving technical virginity, or as a safer alternative.

This preference has sparked discussion within these communities about what defines "real sex" or the most intimate sexual expression. Some advocates of frotting argue that bringing two genitals together for mingling, caressing, sliding, and rubbing constitutes a truer form of sex than other male sexual activities. In contrast, other men associate masculine identity with the roles of "top" and "bottom" during anal intercourse.

Among other animals

Genital–genital rubbing has been observed between males of other animals as well. Among bonobos, frottage frequently occurs when two males hang from a tree limb and engage in penis fencing; it also occurs while two males are in the missionary position. Genital rubbing similar to frotting between non-primate males has been observed among bull manatees, in conjunction with "kissing." Penis-to-penis rubbing is also common among homosexually active mammals.