Soulful Drag
A glittery safe space for queer entertainment.
Maichina Veri, November 23, 2022 // Brantford, Ontario
Your host of Flores & Friends - Kamilla Flores Kameleon! Submitted photo.
Karen Camara is the owner of Soulful Kafe located at 81 Brant Ave. The menu at the warm and friendly restaurant includes Jamaican, Nigerian, Portuguese and Canadian cuisine – a menu that celebrates the growing diversity in the community. In addition to being a restaurant, Soulful Kafe acts as a venue for live music on Fridays and Saturdays and is also the home of Flores & Friends – a monthly drag show hosted by queen Kamilla Flores Kameleon.
“We support everyone and feel that everyone has a seat at the table,” says Karen. As a Black woman who runs a small business, Karen knows “all too well” of the adversities out there. Kamilla has faced difficulties as well. She grew up not having access to, or knowing of, safe spaces for herself as a queer individual. Now her drag character is a way for her to celebrate her Peruvian heritage and all the parts of herself she felt ashamed of growing up.
Soulful Kafe located at 81 Brant Ave. Submitted photo.
“Creating more safe spaces in Brantford is absolutely crucial to queer individuals who live here,” says Kamilla, and Soulful Kafe is happy to provide a safe space for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Flores & Friends, which runs once a month, is a night of song, dance, laughter and glitter – and is also a “breath of relief,” says Kamila, for folks to be as queer as the would like to be. The next show is on Saturday, December 3 at 10 p.m. Admission is $10 for artist appreciation.
You can find Soulful Kafe on Facebook HERE.
To connect with Kamilla Flores Kameleon on Instagram CLICK HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maichina Veri is a writer based in Brantford, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Montreal’s Concordia University and has a background in Journalism – Print from Niagara College.