Like many Ladies who passed through this place, The Dominion changed me and my life.
I was searching for somewhere I would be understood and not made to feel “less than.” The Dominion in provided a safe space for me to grow and learn to accept myself, and to take away the stigma of being “different” in a world that prefers cookie-cutter perfection. The Dominion gave me self-esteem and I became proud of who I was and valued my kinks and differences as a bonus.
I had the great privilege to work with Lady Laura, the first woman to own a dungeon in Los Angeles. She was my mentor, Mother, Mistress, and friend. She was a trailblazer in the community and an inspiration. The Dominion was a legendary and magical place in the community since 1980 when Lady Laura first opened the doors of her West Hollywood apartment. It became a safe place for kinksters to come and share their deepest, darkest fantasies without fear of judgment or reprisal.
I began my journey with Lady Laura in 1981. I was a true submissive seeking a place to realize my dreams. Lady Laura’s Dominion became that place for me. She took me under her wing and made sure I was safe and remained sane in the process. She was a true Diva whose boots I could never have filled. When she passed in 1997, she left The Dominion in my care to carry on her legacy.
I am proud of the reputation of excellence The Dominion attained all over the world. Many legendary Dominas have learned their craft at The Dominion. I took great pride watching the Ladies grow from BDSM newbies to blossom into some of the most amazing and experienced players in the business. The Dominion was a sanctuary for those of us that were into BDSM. Because we loved it and we needed it, we took it very seriously. It was about OUR fantasies as much as our clients. We loved what we were doing, and we learned from the bottom up in a safe and nurturing environment.
This was not always been an easy journey. There were a lot of obstacles to cross to keep the place going, including fighting city hall and male competitors who did not feel a woman had the right to run a dungeon. Boy were they wrong! One of the great moments in Los Angeles BDSM history was the day that all the BDSM clubs were owned by women. The 80s and 90s were pretty exploitive to women in the houses, and we were able to change that.
The Dominion closed its doors in December, 2021. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been drastic changes to the commercial BDSM community which make it impossible to run things to my high standards. I find myself unwilling to compromise my Old School values, so I had to let her go. I once asked Lady Laura how long I should keep it going and she told me “until it no longer brings you joy.” When I started, I was a meek submissive with no self-worth. The love and care within these walls made me a better and stronger person. I decided to close because I loved it too much not to honor the protocols, rituals, and honesty of those who mentored and raised me.
This was my life for over 40 years. I loved being a Dungeon Mother. I think I will miss that the most. It has been a blessing to me, and I am confident I did Lady Laura proud. There will never be another place like The Dominion.
– Lady Hillary,
Headmistress of The Dominion
