People Exchanging Power

A History of Sexual Support Groups

by Nancy Ava Miller, M. Ed.

according to hearsay, rumor, folklore, written documentation, and my somewhat questionable memory. ( 1950's through late 1996 )

"There are many benefits of joining or contacting a BD/SM club, Club members are discreet and will treat any contact as totally confidential and anonymous. Club members are kind, caring, and loving in relating to persons interested n BD/SM and will warmly listen and accept inquiries. Club members are among the most skilled and knowledgeable about this BD/SM lifestyle and practices. Finally, club members follow the standards of Safe, Sane, Consensual, and Compassionate play. All these reasons may help an interested person feel comfortable a BD/SM club or club member."

------------------Christopher Templeton, SM Publisher

" Self-doubt, self-hatred, and self-deception; loneliness, isolation, and stigma can never be good for anyone. if our lives are to contain any meaning or happiness, we must find each other, find partners and friends....who can understand our poetry, our erotic longings, our fantasies. We need allies and accomplices. We need a place where we belong."

------------Pat Califia, author, lesbian S&M activist

" We are sworn that no boy or girl, approaching that maelstrom of deviation, need make the crossing alone, afraid, or in the dark ever again."

-------------Mattachine Society, 1951, a first gay successful gay organization in the U.S.

A History of Sexual Support Groups

Early 1950's - Henry Hay (and friends) create the Mattachine Society, the first successful gay organization. Although others made earlier attempts to form a society for homosexuals, Mr. Hay was the first to incorporate the participation of non-gays (relatives, clergymen, psychologists, doctors, etc.) into a "gay group." His mother, in fact, was a frequent Mattachine attendee. The Mattachine, I believe, was the first club to welcome both gay men and lesbians.

1971 - In New York City, Mr. Pat Bond creates the first S&M support group in the The USA, and probably worldwide, The Eulenspiegel Society (TES). Originally founded as a support system for masochists, the club soon embraces all facets of S&M and other fetishistic or iconoclastic sexual leanings. Eulenspiegel celebrated its 25th anniversary in January 1996.

1972 - In San Francisco, Cynthia Slatter, founds Society of Janus, the second oldest S&M support group in the USA (and world?) Ms. Slatter (now deceased) was a sometimes professional dominatrix who, like Mr. Hay and Mr. Bond, (and, I might add, like most leaders of such groups!) devoted much time, energy, soul, and personal financial assets toward her commitment to a unique support network.

Early or mid-1980's - Laura Goodwin, a non-professional dominatrix, leads a popular S&M group in Colorado, D.A.D.S. - Denver Area Dominants & Submissives. Because of her S&M involvement, the Department of Human Services snatches her son, Jason, and places the child (with a former husband. After a lengthy legal battle, the court awards custody again to Ms. Goodwin, declaring that "S&M is not illegal in Colorado." Although - for the most part -the SM community supports Ms. Goodwin during her ordeal, her group nevertheless over-throws her D.A.D.S. leadership and effectively ousts her from D.A.D.S. D.A.D.S. quickly disintegrates after her departure. Laura then moves to Hartford with Jason, her new husband, and a new baby, where she founds United Leatherfolk of Connecticut, another S&M support group that thrives to this day.

Early or mid-1980's - Appearance in Seattle, of the National Leather Association (NLA). The group welcomes only gay men at first but soon expands to embrace lesbians. By 1987 - at the time of the (I believe) first Gay Rights March on Washington, DC (and the S&M Leather Contingent Conference at the Federal Departmental Auditorium), the NLA has perhaps two or three chapters nationwide and is starting to encourage heterosexual membership. Today the NLA boasts 20-30 chapters around the globe.

1985 - After I place an ad in the Albuquerque Journal for a "submissive, obedient man," one of my respondents gives me a book by Dr. Gini Graham Scott, Dominant Women, Submissive Men (in paperback now titled Erotic Power: An Exploration of Dominance and Submission, Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ: 1983.) In her book. Dr. Scott mentions the existence of SM support groups and I immediately decide to start my own support network.

Summer, 1986 - I travel by van to New York City from my home in New Mexico to visit the Eulenspiegel Society, one of the support groups discussed in Dr. Scott's book. I spend two weeks camping in upstate New York while driving into the city two or three times weekly for TES gatherings.

October 16, 1986 - Armed with knowledge garnered at Eulenspiegel, I head west and create in Albuquerque the first PEP - People Exchanging Power - S&M support group.

Spring, 1987 - Although PEP-New Mexico is successful, two or three rebellious members covet leadership of the group. Following several weeks of negotiations, I relinquish the group to the dissatisfied members and travel east to create PEP-Washington, DC. Within a month of my departure, PEP-New Mexico is defunct and PEP-DC is thriving.

July 11, 1987 - PEP-DC first congregates at Rockville Unitarian Church. Forty-two people attend. The Washington PEP group is more successful - in terms of attendance and enthusiasm - than PEP-New Mexico. I set up a schedule of three meetings per week.

October 21, 1987 - After turning over PEP-DC to a board of directors, I leave Washington and head west.

November 1987 - I re-start PEP-New Mexico sans the rebellious members who caused the demise of the original group.

February 13-15, 1988 - Big SM conference in Dallas.

Purpose: To create a national SM organization, a phenomenon postulated at the SM Leather Contingent in Washington during October 1987. The new group never forms, however, hence the National Leather Association takes over the role of US organizational leadership for SM-ers.

July 1988 - I turn over PEP-New Mexico to Mistress Melissa and travel to Arizona to create PEP-Tuscon and PEP-Phoenix. I secure apartments in both cities and spend the summer traveling weekly the 100 miles between Tuscon and Phoenix for PEP meetings.

September 1988 - After three weeks of business meetings, I turn over the Phoenix group to Mistress Catrina and Bert C. who vow to keep PEP-Tuscon also running with the help of Lord Wellington. PEP-Tuscon dies out almost immediately, but Catrina and Bert maintain a successful SM support group in Phoenix, which they rename "APEX" (Arizona Power Exchange).

October 1988 - I travel to Washington, DC, to host weekly PEP parties and fundraisers to garner money for my next project: PEP-Philadelphia! While I'm in Washington, my father, a Washington area resident, dies. Two weeks later, I learn my husband. Doc is divorcing me.

November 1988 - I return to New Mexico and Melissa turns over the Albuquerque group to me. I now live full-time at the PEP house. My slave, Barry, moves in with me.

January, 1989 - Neil founds PEP-Dallas. Mistress Ruth accepts leadership from Neil. The group thrives for many years until Mistress Ruth dies unexpectedly in January 1994 during a bout with the flu. See also [ Ruth Cole ]

Spring, 1989 - PEP-DC changes its name to "Black Rose." The Board of Directors cites worries of liability and other legalities which ostensibly prompt the name change.

June 1989 - I turn over leadership of PEP-Albuquerque to Master Gilbert and Mistress Elizabeth, close down the PEP house in Albuquerque, and move back to my old house in Edgewood, New Mexico. Within a few months, PEP-New Mexico is, once again, dead.

July 1989 - My divorce is final and I marry Barry. This is the first year since '86 that I do not create a new PEP group.

Circa early 1990's - Poet Robert Dante creates PEP-Houston, led successfully by him for years till Mr. Dante moves to Toronto where today he publishes Boudoir Noir. January 1990 -I decide to turn PEP into a business, but the PEP groups still earn no money! May 1990 - Mistress Kay of the Red Rose founds PEP-Nashville. She leads the group successfully for years. Today the group is managed by Lady Kia and Master Rex.

June 1990 - I borrow money from my mother to create another group in Washington. The Black Rose by now has become purely educational with private parties offered by invitation only to the "in-crowd." I start a social/educational PEP group that meets every Saturday at my PEP House for a party plus an informational program. In addition, I begin providing professional domination plus counseling and phone conversation.

July 1990 - I sponsor the first PEP-Philadelphia party at the home of Mistress Marlene Miller, a professional dominatrix. Approximately 40 people attend and I rent a PEP house in Philadelphia and spend several months traveling 300 miles round trip between PEP-Philadelphia and PEP-DC.

October 1990 - I turn over PEP-DC to Mistress V, a professional dominatrix, and PEP-Philadelphia to a Board of Directors. Within a few months, PEP-Pennsylvania is defunct. Mistress V leads PEP-DC successfully until Summer 1991 when she is arrested on prostitution charges (later dismissed). She turns over group leadership to Diane and the Wizard who maintain the group for months till personal problems prevent them from continuing. A new party group, De ja Vous (formed from the remnants of PEP-DC) still meets today in Maryland.

July 1991 - Barry and I re-start PEP-Tuscon. The group only lasts for two months after we leave Arizona. Other attempts to re-start the Tuscon group also fail. Today, however, a new group exists in Tuscon - created via the help of APEX.

August 1991 - I create PEP-Atlanta, a difficult PEP group due to low attendance. When I depart Georgia in December 1991, Lady D accepts group leadership. Today under the continued stewardship of Lady D, PEP-Atlanta boasts high attendance and great popularity among SM aficionados.

October 1991 - The PEP National Office is secured in Albuquerque and Mistress Marie takes over as office manager.

November 1991 - Barry and I travel to Pennsylvania to re-start PEP-Philadelphia. Although well-attended during our visit, the group dies out as soon as we leave Philadelphia.

Circa Autumn, 1991 - PEP - in addition to support groups nationwide - now offers phone counseling with dominant/submissive ladies throughout the USA.

January - June 1992 Barry and I create PEP-Baltimore, a popular Baltimore/Washington group that meets one to two times a week in Laurel, Maryland.

April - May 1992 - Barry and I travel back and forth between Maryland and Pennsylvania to restart once again PEP-Philadelphia. Mistress Sheila and Mistress Donna, two PEP phone counselors, are also instrumental in the re-organization and continuance of PEP- Philadelphia. Today the group thrives under their leadership.

Summer 1993 - Barry and I leave Maryland and create PEP-Denver, which lasts for two years under the leadership of Lady Dorothy, PEP-Baltimore, now led by Master Paul and Nicole, undergoes a name change shortly after our departure from the East coast and is re-labeled "The Dominant/Submissive ; Society of Baltimore." Within a year, the group is dead.

January 1994 - Mommy Wicked Wanda creates PEP-Tidewater in Norfolk, Virginia. PEP National hosts big conferences and parties on a regular basis, mainly in Albuquerque - bringing together the PEP phone counselors and the SM community at large for seminars and socializing.

Early 1994 - Renee creates "Escape" - a successful S&M support group in Las Vegas. A few months later, she travels to Richmond, Virginia, and starts "Escape East." Both groups flourish today.

Mid 1994 - PEP, now a lucrative adult conversation business, as well as a support network, is sued by a former PEP phone counselor, prostitute Dolores French, who claims to be "part owner" of PEP and demands her "share of the company assets." Marie resigns from PEP and becomes partners with Ms. French. Mistress Melissa becomes executive director or PEP National which now requires several employees plus a bevy of telephone counselors.

Circa 1994 - Mistress Donna G. creates PEP-New Brunswick in New Jersey.

June 1994 - Barry, Melissa, and I travel to Missouri to create PEP - St. Louis. Goddess Dianna Vesta, publisher of Attitude Magazine, leads the group for one year after our departure. Meanwhile, the lawsuit drones on, draining revenue from PEP and requiring frequent journeys to Atlanta, where the lawsuit is filed.

January 1995 - In summary judgment, Judge Weeks in Atlanta refuses to consider Dolores French's complaint against PEP and throws her case out of court, thus PEP "wins" the lawsuit, after spending $60,000 to do so. Shortly thereafter, Ms. French and Mistress Marie (now monikered as "Diva Marie") part company. "Diva Marie" files bankruptcy. Also in January, 1995 - Our grandson is kidnapped and taken to Yuma, Arizona by "the other side of the family." Although the child is returned almost immediately, I find myself facing possible criminal charges, accused by the other grandmother of "child molestation" (due to the "adult" nature of PEP). After a brief investigation, the charges are deemed false, but the ordeal causes continued legal battles.

September, 1995 - Sir Midian creates PEP-Orlando, now defunct.

Circa 1995 - Lady Kia and Master Rex take over leadership of PEP-Tennessee, which did out briefly when Mistress Kay the Red Rose ceased running it.

Mid-1995 - Goddess Dianna Vesta departs St. Louis and returns to Fort Lauderdale, thus PEP-St. Louis dies out.

Circa 1995 - A contingent of malcontents causes Lady Dorothy to relinquish leadership of PEP-Denver, and the group dies out.

Summer 1995 - Matt S. creates the first successful (and very popular) SM support group in Ohio, PEP-Cincinnati, now led by Janet and Tom.

July 1996 - I re-create PEP-St. Louis - now led by Lady Maeve.

August 3, 1996 - With the help of Lady Dianna and Master Rysek, I create PEP-Pittsburg, the first true, pansexual S&M support group in Pittsburgh, to my knowledge. (George and Maria Canes successfully ran the Tri-State Couples Club for many years till a trumped-up "prostitution raid" on the group put a damper on its activities. The Canes - an SM couple committed to the S&M community - were ultimately found not guilty of prostitution or any related charges.)

August 10 1996 - With the help of Mistress Diane Marie and Lady Dorothy, I re-create PEP-Denver. Today the group is led once again by Dorothy.

August 16, 1996 - With the help of Anil K., I restart PEP-Dallas which has lain dormant since the death of Mistress Ruth.

October 28, 1996 - I create PEP-Minneapolis in the Twin Cities.

October 1996 - PEP's 10 year anniversary party scheduled for the Baltimore/Washington area.

February 1997 - PEP's third annual Fetish Conference and Sex Industry Workshops scheduled for Albuquerque. About the Author Dominatrix, author & sex educator, Nancy Ava Miller, M.Ed., offers intelligent B&D/S&M support groups! Literature! Seminars! Conferences! Counseling! Plus enlightened, loving fetish conversation!

I OCRed this from my copy of Corporal Newspaper and it is a part of my Newspaper Collection. One of the dates was not accurate, Janus was created in 1974. Not 1972. The other dates are accurate and this history is great reading. My newspapers are at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Our_Rag_Time

A Personal Note from Robin

Nancy Ava Miller traveled extensively throughout the Southwest and East Coast. It is probably this reason that many of the groups in the SFO Bay Area are overlooked in this "History of PEP".

BackDrop was formed in 1966, which is before either TES or Janus {[footer}}