Workshops, Hanky Codes and Coming to Power, oh my!: Samois’ Educational Practices

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One of Samois’ major objectives was education about the meaning and possibility of lesbian-feminist SM. Member education entailed workshops on SM technique and safety, through programs on topics such as anal sex, fisting, topping and whipping.[1] Yet, Samois’ educational practices extended beyond its membership in a number of ways. Samois hosted at least three public information sessions between January 1979 and April 1981, drawing large crowds from all over the Bay Area. [2]

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[3]

Additionally, they created and sold an informational booklet, What Color is Your Handkerchief, which included, among other things, lengthy discussions of the definitions of and politics behind lesbian-feminist SM and the first lesbian hanky-code.[4] Throughout the group’s existence, they also published a monthly newsletter that helped spread the word about the group and lesbian-feminist SM to interested parties around the country and, indeed, the globe.[5] In 1981, the group expanded this educational reach with its controversial publication, Coming to Power, which was chock-full of narrative, poetry and fiction, also advocated for the understanding and acceptance of lesbian-feminist sado-masochism.[6]



Key-words: Samois, lesbian, feminism, lesbian-feminism, SM, sado-masochism, BDSM, kink, education, What Color is Your Handkerchief, Coming to Power


  1. Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” January-December, 1980, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  2. Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” April 1979-April 1981, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  3. Original Artwork by Katie Diamond; Samois, “Handkerchief Color Code for Lesbians” in What Color Is Your Handkerchief, June 1979, cover and 36-44.
  4. Samois, “Handkerchief Color Code for Lesbians” in What Color Is Your Handkerchief, June 1979, 36-44.
  5. Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” April 1979-March 1982, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  6. Samois, Coming to Power (Palo Alto, CA: Up Press, 1981). <comments />
  1. ↑ Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” January-December, 1980, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  2. ↑ Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” April 1979-April 1981, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  3. ↑ Samois, “Handkerchief Color Code for Lesbians” in What Color Is Your Handkerchief, June 1979, cover and 36-44.
  4. ↑ Samois, “Handkerchief Color Code for Lesbians” in What Color Is Your Handkerchief, June 1979, 36-44.
  5. ↑ Samois, “Samois Newsletter,” April 1979-March 1982, Samois Archive, GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA.
  6. ↑ Samois, Coming to Power (Boston: Alyson Publications, 1987).
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