11-year-old boy bullied for liking ‘gay’ My Little Pony attempts suicide, may have brain damage
An 11-year-old boy who attempted suicide after homophobic bullying is likely to have permanent brain damage, it has been reported.
Michael Morones was a fan of the television show ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’, but was bullied at school because it was perceived as ‘gay’.
Two weeks ago he attempted to hang himself in his room, and has been in critical condition fighting for his life since. The oxygen supply to his brain had been cut off for some time when his parents found him, and doctors say he could have permanent brain damage.
His mother, Tiffany Morones-Suttle, told WTVD that he had said: “Mum, I’m tired of people being mean to me, I’m tired of people calling me gay, I’m tired of people telling me I’m ugly, that I’m stupid.
She said: “I’ve heard a lot of people say you need to go after bullies and hold them responsible, but you know, I don’t think that’s what Mike would want. I would rather teach people how to do right than turn around than punish, because punishment doesn’t always work.”
Voice actor Andrea Libman, who plays Pinkie Pie, Michael’s favourite character on the show, got every member of the cast to record special messages for him after she was contacted by his step-father.
His stepfather, Chris Shannon Suttle, told Chicago Now: “He said to us that the other kids were telling him he was gay for loving Pinkie Pie and they were trying to make him feel ashamed for being gay.
“We said that we didn’t care if he was gay or straight; he was our son and we would love him.”
My Little Pony fans and supporters have so far donated over $43,000 (£26,400) to a fund that will pay for his care.
Michael was due to have a tracheostomy yesterday, which should allow him to breathe through his windpipe.
A study published last month found that 40% of young gay people in England had contemplated suicide.
