Dwarf tossing masquerades as a ‘sport’ when barroom bullies compete for prize money awarded to whoever throws a dwarf the farthest. From 1985 to 2012, it was like a perennial weed and you never knew who would sow the seeds—a newspaper columnist, a bar owner, a business promoter, a dwarf wanting to be tossed, a radio station seeking publicity, a dwarf challenging the constitutionality of a state law ban, or a state representative filing a bill to repeal the ban as obsolete.
From the beginning, Little People of America (LPA) successfully advocated against dwarf tossing in establishments licensed to serve alcohol as a morally bankrupt practice offensive by any standard of human decency.
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The debacle was grounded in Chicago with a public relations campaign and with legislative bans in Florida and New York in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
So when Representative Workman sought to repeal the Florida law during Dwarfism Awareness Month in 2011, he was deluged with resistance. LPA demanded that the bill be withdrawn and bombarded him with:
- protest letters from little people, family and friends, and disability organizations;
- negative media attention; and
- 4,834 signatures on a change.org petition that each triggered a ping when landing in his email inbox.
Prior to his bill, Workman had never met anyone with dwarfism! But after four weeks of relentless advocacy, he became acutely aware of all that is wrong with dwarf tossing:
- It generates harmful stereotypes that often marginalize even the most highly qualified and educated people with dwarfism as they try to enter the mainstream employment market. LPA President, Gary Arnold, and American Association of People with Disabilities President, Mark Perriello
- It objectifies the dwarf community making the individual who is tossed like a shot put or a javelin thrown in a track and field event. LPA President, Gary Arnold
- In a day and age when society is confronting bullying, it is a shame that this bill takes us backwards. It enables bullying. LPA Vice President of Public Relations, Leah Smith
- We feel the pain all the way down deep in our bones when we have to fight for our basic dignity as human beings. LPA Advocacy Director, Joe Stramondo
- Civil liberties are not put at risk by upholding the ban, but are supported by it.Reality TV Star, Bill Klein
- A career in dwarf tossing is likely to secure the tossee a check from the Social Security Administration or a plot in the cemetery. LPA Advocate, Angela Van Etten
- It creates an environment so toxic that little people fear ‘copycat’ behavior and being thrown against their will. LPA Advocate, Angela Van Etten
When two past LPA Presidents—Robert and Angela Van Etten—confronted Workman in his office, he acknowledged that his bill set back little people decades with ‘freak show’ imagery and a return to the 1930s era of circus show entertainment. Although he refused to withdraw the bill, he agreed not to promote it. And the bill died in committee on March 9, 2012.
This post is a condensed version of chapter 13, A Perennial Weed, in “ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities” coming in Fall 2121.
To read more of my writings, please visit my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com.
2 replies on “Dwarf Tossing Throwback”
Angela and Robert, I’m so proud to say that I know you both, two such courageous people taking a stand to change the world for Little People and other marginalized disabled people! I have to confess that I thought “dwarf tossing” was a made up thing—a bad joke—before reading this. Thank you for confronting this appalling practice and the oblivious (and morally challenged) politician involved with this case!
I appreciate your confession Kathy. Dwarf tossing is definitely a depravity that is hard to believe was ever allowed to get off the ground. Robert and I were among the many people who advocated against it.