Probably an assumption on my part; but I seriously doubt the poor kid has a father at home.
Fatherless homes have ruined America.
Article is a little vague. There's a step-dad in the picture.
IMO, a father would step in and say "No, you're not going to play with Pink My Little Pony dolls.", and that would have been the end of it. Or, "The kids are teasing you for playing with Pink dolls? So stop doing it. What did you expect?".
'Tis what I would have done. But then again, I'm not a new-age PITA pushover like the mom and step-dad in the article.