Orlando

I wasn't planning on making my first topical blog post about such a sad topic, but I got some feelings down right after the news broke of the shooting at Pulse in Orlando. It's about time I publish them.

It was the late Martin Luther-King Jr that once said:

"We've learnt to fly the air like birds. We've learnt to swim the seas like fish... And yet we still haven't learnt to walk the earth as brothers and sisters."

This act of terrorism committed against the LGBTQ+ community right at the beginning of our month of Pride celebrations is proof that there are still people who don't believe in equality. Unfortunately, it has shed light on the unavoidable fact that homophobia and xenophobia are still very much alive and can even be deadly forms of hateful ideology.


But I think that this just gives our community and those who support it even more of a reason to stand, march, dance and live for love. Love is the most powerful and pure substance on this earth. These hateful organisations will only last so long before their brand of bitterness is replaced with a new one. But love is transcendent. It is an intrinsic human right for us to love freely and openly and to feel safe whilst doing so. I for one will never let anyone believe that they can take that right away from me.


It's been just over two weeks since the shooting occurred and I think its impact is clear: People are not hiding. We are all very much visible. There is no shame in Pride. There is, however, no greater shame than being forced to hide who you are.


The world is a wonderful place full of so much love. Hate became the way it is because it is too weak to take on the whole world. There is no strength to be found in division and persecution. Strength lies in unity and acceptance.


The sacrifice that the Orlando victims made in order to live their most authentic lives is one that I will never forget.


There is still a fight to be had, but no amount of ammunition will ever kill self-expression.


Love always wins.

A Brief History of Layla - A greeting from my universe to yours

Hello? Is this thing on..?

I thought I'd use my first blog post to introduce myself and provide anyone who is bored enough to read this with a brief overview of the spectacle that is my life, so here goes:

My full name is Layla Bethany Rose Steadman. I'm nineteen years old and a bit of a weirdo. I live in Clacton-On-Sea in Essex with my wonderful family. I live for PS4, food, music and sleep. I talk FAR too much. I should probably wind this bit up now...

My attitude towards life falls somewhere between 'sickeningly optimistic' and 'hilariously cynical'.
Don't ask me how I managed to get caught between the two because I haven't the faintest idea either. I am fluent in sarcasm and I have a ridiculously dry sense of humour.

Talking of ideas: I suppose you're wondering what a person like me could ever possibly write about that would be entertaining and engaging enough to hold the attention of a number of people. Well, here's what I plan on bringing to the table:

- A selection of (Highly unprofessional) societal opinions based on various motivations such as: 
politics, current affairs (Recent news stories etc), moments of all-consuming rage (Likely aimed at a political figure), and (Likely very anticlimactic) personal epiphanies. 

I plan on posting these opinions in a way that considers both sides of each debate. Having said that, I'm known for ranting, so don't eliminate the possibility of at least a couple of those!

Maybe I'll decide to be a bit fancy and try my hand at something more creative, such as a poem or a super short story to accompany a subject... But don't hold me to that.

I hope to, eventually, write things that a couple of my fellow humans may want to aim their eyeballs towards. Maybe I'll end up making a career out of it, that'd be pretty sweet.

Well, I think that's all that needs to be said for now, but believe me, I will always have more to say. I am a bottomless pit of unnecessary information which I am now ready to open for the amusement of the internet in its entirety.

Lucky you!