My Little Pony fans are rushing to the aid of young Michael Morones, an eleven-year-old boy who is currently in the hospital after his attempted suicide. It would seem that the attempt came after alleged bullying by his classmates over being a Brony, a fan of the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. While this is undoubtedly a tragedy, the ongoing groundswell of love and support toward Morones thus far has been inspiring.
People Magazine and Mashable have reported that Morones told his parents about how he was teased and derisively labeled “gay” by his classmates for being a fan of My Little Pony. Last week, Michael was stopped in an attempt to hang himself by his parents and rushed to the hospital. He is not currently conscious and has suffered brain damage from the event.
Over on GoFundMe, a fundraiser is currently raising thousands of dollars to help Michael’s family with his medical bills. (They are close to the $60,000 mark at the time this post was being written). Bronies from all over the world are sending their well-wishes to the boy, letting him know that there is a community of fans out there who are just like him, that being “manly” has nothing to do with the television shows you watch, that he should feel free to love the things he loves.
Michael Morones’ favorite pony is Pinkie Pie (he has ADHD and his parents say he relates to her exuberant energy). And rather than calling out the children who allegedy teased their son, Morones’ parents are calling for all children to be educated in the manner that Friendship is Magic advocates: to promote greater understanding through kindness. They believe that is what Michael would want. All our best wishes go out to Michael Morones and his family—we certainly hope that their message is heard and taken heart by people of all ages.
