http://www.bustle.com/articles/82201-8-things-you-need-to-know-about-gay-sex-according-to-science-including-everything-youve-ever

It's not hard to learn about sex. Most of us get at least a basic education about the birds and the bees once we hit middle school, and even standing in line at the grocery store will leave you bombarded with magazine headlines telling you everything you (think) you need to know about getting naked with someone. But none of this is true if you identify as queer. Think about it, have you ever seen a cover line or textbook chapter titled "what do gay men do in bed?".

Despite all the powerful advancements for gay rights over the past few years, the idea of gay sex is still considered to be taboo. It's finally starting to make its way into popular TV shows such as Game of Thrones and True Blood, but so many people are still scared of talking about it. Thankfully, that, too, is starting to change.

Through the use of surveys and science, gay sex is finally getting the star treatment that its heterosexual counterpart has enjoyed for years. We recently revealed some fun facts about lesbian sex, but now, the boys are getting their turn. Whether you're an expert in the field of swordplay or just curious about what happens when two (or more) guys decide to get it on, you're about to get a different kind of sexual education.

1. Gay people and straight people are equally promiscuous

There's a long-held notion that gay people like to sleep around more than straight people. But a 2010 OkCupid study of 3.2 million gay and straighter users tells us that we're all equally, gloriously slutty. The median number of sexual partners for gay men is six. And for straight men? Also six. Gay women? Yep, six. Straight women? You guessed it. In fact, 98 percent of gay people have had sex with under twenty people, and the same is true for 99 percent of straight people.

2. But orgies and threesomes are still fair game

Even though 42 percent of participants in an About.com survey of 6,306 gay men said that they never have more than one partner in bed, seven percent claimed that they "always" or "almost always" invite more than one person for some naked snuggling.

3. Anal sex is not as popular as you'd think

A lot of people are under the impression that gay sex=anal sex, but a 2011 Indiana University and George Mason University study of 25,000 gay and bisexual men revealed that only 36 percent of men reported receiving anal sex and 34 percent of men reported giving it during their most recent sexual event. "Of all sexual behaviors that men reported occurring during their last sexual event, those involving the anus were the least common," Lead author Joshua G. Rosenberger said. With all the references you hear about pitching and catching, it's kind of interesting to learn that plenty of gay people aren't even into baseball at all. It's a shame, though, because…

4. Nearly a quarter of gay men frequently get orgasms from anal sex alone

You've probably heard that stimulating the prostate gland is basically like hitting the male G-spot, but if you don't believe the stories, let the numbers do the talking. In another About.com survey of 7,153 gay men, 24 percent of participants reported that they "always" or "almost always" are able to climax solely from anal stimulation, and 37 percent said that it "sometimes" happens.

5. Other animals enjoy having gay sex, too

The next time anyone tries to tell you that dudes banging other dudes is not "natural," allow science to prove them wrong for you. Plenty of mammals, insects, birds, and fish have been observed engaging in same-sex lovin'. While many of their encounters might have just been one-time flings, in 1994, scientists found that up to eight percent of male domestic sheep have displayed a distinct preference for other males, even when there are fertile ewes just dying to get down and dirty.

6. Gay men prefer big penises

At least in Atlanta, 52 percent of gay men said that size definitely does matter in a 2015 survey of gay men by David Atlanta, a weekly LGBT publication in Atlanta. But it would appear that they'll have to look hard to find big enough to suit their preference; in the same survey, only 8 percent of men admitted to having a member that was over eight inches long (And let's be real, here: some of them definitely rounded up.).

7. Kisses and BJs apparently make a great combination

I sure hope my rude, semenophobic ex is reading this, because in that About.com survey of 6,908 gay men, 45 percent say that they always — always — kiss after a blowjob. Another 21 percent said that they "almost always" kiss after oral, and only seven percent said that it never happens. But maybe if you're that afraid of your own jizz, you should eat some pineapple before expecting your partner to deal with it.

8. A surprisingly small number of queer men like to be on top all the time

When asked which position of anal sex was the best, only 16 percent of gay men stated that they preferred top in another About.com survey of 7,153 gay men. In comparison, 41 percent of the participants described themselves as a "bottom," with the remainder saying that they enjoyed switching it up. Apparently, those anal orgasms are really something special.

Images: Beth Rankin/Flickr; Giphy (8)