It’s that time of year again when the leaves start turning, the air gets crisp, and pumpkin spice lattes become ubiquitous. In other words, “Bottom Autumn” aka “Bautumn” is nearly upon us once again.
Just as your tan starts fading, and it’s getting too cold to ogle guys at the beach anymore, the bottoms among us are taking over and making themselves known.
To get to the bottom — ahem — of what makes this auspicious gay holiday season so great, how TikTok was involved in its creation, how to participate, and why there is a rivalry between fem tops and vers bottoms, we spoke with Zachary Zane, a sex and relationship expert for #LubeLife, who broke it all down.
Move over, Christian Girl Autumn, it’s Bottom Autumn now!
What does “Bottom Autumn” mean, and where did the term originate?
@ricotaquito Cant wait ro celebrate with you guys 😍🥰
In 2024, TikToker Eric Sedeño went viral for a video about Bottom Autumn where he laid out the playful feud between Fem Top Fall and Vers Bottom Autumn. Bautumn, as it come to be known, is now in it’s second year and shows no sign of slowing down.
“I have since seen Dom Bottom Autumn and other iterations,” Zane tells PRIDE. “Essentially, it’s just a fun way for bottoms to get a little attention and embrace being a little slutty and sex-positive during the fall.”
What’s the “vers bottoms vs. fem tops” rivalry about?
@ashray FEM TOP NATION RISE‼️only few understand the light… #fyp #femtopfall #ballerinamakeyotoescurl
Last year, Sedeño started a battle that’s still raging on TikTok over whether fall is Fem Top Fall and Vers Bottom Autumn.
"I'm seeing all this discourse about Fem Top Fall or Vers Bottom Autumn," he says in the video. "Let's think this through guys. Fem Top Fall? What is a feminine top? A blouse, okay? Is blouse giving fall? I feel like blouse is giving spring/summer.”
But unlike the clearly summery fem tops, vers bottoms, Sedeño argues, are perfect for fall weather. "A versatile bottom? Think about that. It could be a nice trouser. It could be a heavy jean. Joggers!" he says. "Aren't you way more likely to vers bottom in the autumn? Think about it. No hate for Fem Top Fall, you had your moment. But blouses? Save that for the springtime!”
It’s a low-stakes rivalry where everyone comes out on top — metaphorically, of course!
“I don't think this is a ‘real’ rivalry, to be clear,” Zane explains. “I think fem tops wanted some love, too, so in response to Bautumn created a fem top season. It’s just playful and fun to incorporate into TikTok videos and memes.”
In case you’re out of the loop, a fem top (also known as a “blouse”) is someone who looks like they love to get their back blown out — think twinks, drag queens, or a fem queer folks — but actually loves to top in the bedroom. Vers bottoms (or “Trousers”), on the other hand, love bottoming, but can also take on the role of the penetrator in a relationship.
How does one observe the season?
“It’s up to you in how you observe it, but I think it’s just a way to embrace and feel proud of being a bottom,” Zane says. “If that means you’re taking loads this fall, go for it! If it just means you want to talk about being a bottom more, go for it. There’s no one way to celebrate or observe the season—just have fun with it.”
So get out there and celebrate your bottom energy, raise bottom visibility, and go find the top to your bautumn!
Who can participate? Is there an equivalent for queer women?
Whether you’re a gay man, nonbinary, trans, or a lesbian, you can get in on the Bottom Autumn fun. The terms “top” and “bottom” may have originally been coined by and for gay men, but lesbian bottoms are a thing, and any queer person can take on that role in the bedroom.
“I think anyone can participate! Queer women can absolutely identify as bottoms, so join in on the fun,” Zane says.
The great thing about being queer is that we don’t have to adhere to strict heteronormative ideas around sex, gender, and relationship structures. So if you’re LGBTQ+ unshackle yourself from those rigid boundaries and lean into Bottom Autumn, regardless of who you are.
How do you best prepare? Any cautionary advice?
@tophhgriff Yessss divas!! #fyp
It’s a truism in life, always use more lube than you think you need. And never leave home without it, especially during Bautum, Zane advises.
“If you plan to have a season that involves a lot of bottoming, I’d recommend always having lube on you,” he says. “The anus does not self-lubricate, and spit does not cut it. Your Bottom Autumn is going to be cut very short if you end up with a painful anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anal canal that can cause a ton of pain).”
Luckily, Zane is the lube expert and has some recommendations so you can be as bautum-y as you want this Bottom Autumn. “For anal sex, I recommend a thicker silicone-based lube because it lasts longer,” he explains. “#LUBELIFE Ultra Slick Silicone Lube is ideal for folks who want to have a long anal session and don’t want to stop having sex to reapply lube constantly. It is a little bit on the messier side, and if that’s something that bothers you or your partner, then you can try the #LUBELIFE Barely There Thin Silicone Lubricant. It’s still silicone-based and thick, but a little less messy and easier to wash off.”
How is it different from cuffing season?
Bautumn and cuffing season — when people seek out committed relationships as it gets colder — seem diametrically opposed, but Zane says they go hand in hand. So if you want someone to keep you warm this winter, what better way to find that person than getting your groove on during Bottom Autumn. Sometimes you have to get topped by a lot of frogs before you find your prince.
“I think there is some unspoken idea that summer is the slutty month, and then, come autumn, sluttying around slows down,” he says. “So I do believe that Bottom Autumn can be a sort of precursor to cuffing season. Go and find your man in autumn because winter is right around the corner, and you want to be cuffed for it!”
Source cited:
Zachary Zane, a sex and relationship expert for #LubeLife.
