Dwarf Tossing...

The other day I came across a conversation on a Twitter thread between a friend with another person we are acquainted with I have respected.  Acquainted [A] person rather callously brought up Dwarf Tossing which is usually known instead as Midget Tossing.  

[For anyone new "midget" is as deeply offensive to us as the "N" word is to African-Americans.]

Anyway Friend [B] took a stand.  Like all too many though [A] apparently sees nothing wrong with it nor the dehumanizing it represents.  [A] took a defensive stance. 

So before I continue I realize many of my Readers may not even know what Dwarf Tossing is about.

It began in the late 1980's in pubs across Australia and rapidly took off in pubs across the U.S. and U.K. 

Dwarf Tossing is a contest.  A dwarf wearing padding and a helmet, working for the pub with their consent, is tossed onto mattresses.  Whoever tosses one the most far wins.  Only ALL Little People lose horribly.

The dehumanizing aspect of this is when the dehumanizing is taken to the whole next horrible level.

For whether sober or drunk, when idiots out in public come across a Little Person, male or female, seeing us only as an object, they then pick up that screaming Little Person and tosses them again and again, laughing like crazy with no regard to how severely they are injuring that Little Person for life.

Dwarf Tossing in pubs quickly escalated into tossing any Little Person encountered in public.  Do you see the terrible danger this presents to ALL of us, not even counting the dehumanizing horror?

So when there are "humans" who think Dwarf Tossing is very entertaining in or out of pubs then defend it because of its entertainment value in or out of pubs we have a very serious problem.  And innocent Little People are paying a terrible price.

Unfortunately, because the money is so good there is a segment of Little People who not only work for pubs in this capacity but staunchly defend it regardless of what is happening to Little People outside of pubs.  In fact these Little People who defend tossing have fought to obstruct any laws stopping this, along with their supporters and pub owners.  It's all about the money and the all important "entertainment value."  No one cares what is happening outside of pubs.

During the 1990's one evening when some theatre friends and I were going out to eat after work, we were suddenly surrounded by several loud men who clearly had been drinking.  Their chilling intent was known immediately when one said, "Look here!  We've got us a midget to toss!"  My friends embraced me and began screaming for help.  Nearby business men came to assist us and soon police arrived too.  It was absolutely terrifying.  I was THAT close to becoming an object to be grabbed and tossed on asphalt.  Following my recent history of seven spine surgeries.

So when I encounter a [A] apparently not seeing anything wrong with this and even seeming defensive about this "entertainment," I felt chilled to my core.  And this is why I am making all of you aware too.  

It is still out there and it is still happening.

If you see this happening to a innocent Little Person in public call the police and get help immediately.  

And please do not patronize pubs that use Dwarf Tossing for "entertainment."