Author

SAMOIS

United States · 1978–1983

SAMOIS was the first organized lesbian sadomasochist organization and is widely recognized as one of the foundational communities in the history of modern Leather and BDSM culture. Founded in San Francisco, California, in 1978, the organization emerged during a period of intense debate surrounding feminism, sexuality, and consensual power exchange, becoming the first public lesbian group dedicated to education, mutual support, and the promotion of consensual S/M relationships. Created by a group of lesbian activists, educators, writers, and practitioners, SAMOIS sought to provide a space where women interested in consensual dominance, submission, and Leather culture could meet, learn, and develop an ethical framework rooted in communication, consent, personal autonomy, and mutual respect. At a time when sadomasochism was frequently misunderstood by both mainstream society and significant sectors of the feminist movement, the organization advocated for the recognition of consensual BDSM as a legitimate expression of sexuality rather than a form of violence or oppression. Beyond its educational activities, discussion groups, and community events, SAMOIS became an important publishing collective. Its most enduring contribution is *Coming to Power: Writings and Graphics on Lesbian S/M*, first published in 1981. More than an anthology, the book preserves essays, educational materials, political reflections, fiction, artwork, and personal testimony produced by members of the community, making it one of the most important primary sources in the history of lesbian Leather and consensual BDSM. Although SAMOIS formally dissolved in 1983, its influence has extended far beyond its relatively brief existence. The organization's work helped establish many of the conversations surrounding consent, ethical power exchange, community responsibility, sexual autonomy, and feminist engagement with BDSM that continue to shape contemporary Leather and BDSM communities. Many of its members—including Pat Califia, Gayle S. Rubin, Katherine Davis, Dorothy Allison, and others—went on to become influential writers, educators, historians, and researchers whose work continues to inform both community practice and academic scholarship. Within The Library of The Cellars, SAMOIS is preserved not simply as an organization, but as one of the founding voices of modern consensual BDSM. Its legacy lies not only in the community it created, but in its commitment to documenting its own history, preserving its ideas, and demonstrating that consensual power exchange could be understood through the principles of education, ethics, mutual respect, and personal freedom.