I didn’t know this even existed until I heard it on the news radio last week.
From the Spokesman-Review:


OLYMPIA – Dwarf tossing and similar staged activities were denounced Thursday as discriminatory, dehumanizing and dangerous, even to dwarfs who aren’t participating in those events.

“Dwarf tossing exists because people find it fun to toss someone smaller than them,” Robert Eagle, a Spokane medical student who has dwarfism, told the Senate Law and Justice Committee. “We’re not items of public amusement.”

But an attorney representing a company that promotes such events argued a proposed ban is so broadly written it could have “a chilling effect” on business.

“Life is not without risks,” Paul Boudreau said. “Not every viral video requires a legislative edict.”

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, proposed a ban on dwarf tossing and similar activities after receiving a request from Eagle, a University of Washington medical student who was concerned when he saw a sign advertising an event at the Déjà Vu strip club in Spokane Valley last fall. Another strip club in Seattle owned by the same company had a dwarf tossing event last summer.

Under the bill, a bar that sponsored such an event could lose its liquor license and face a fine of up to $1,000.

Testifying remotely from Spokane Valley, Eagle said dwarf tossing encourages participants and spectators to regard little people as “less than human.”

He was joined in the committee hearing room by Seattle-area members of Little People of America, who called such events a throwback to the Dark Ages.

“We want to be seen as human beings, first,” said Alex Foos, who works at Amazon.

No other minority group would be subjected to such an activity, said Shoshana Kehoe-Ehlers, an Olympia attorney who works for state government.

“This is so dangerous, and it’s really psychologically damaging,” Kehoe-Ehlers said.


Ayden Harris, a seventh-grader from Woodinville, Washington, disagreed with people who argue dwarf tossing is a sport. Harris, who is 12, said he plays Little League baseball and flag football as an athlete. In dwarf tossing, he said he wouldn’t be an athlete but “a piece of equipment.”

“Dwarf tossing sends a message that throwing people smaller than you is OK,” he said.

Boudreau countered that people who participate in wrestling and other events staged by his client, Center Stage Entertainment, choose to do so, and outlawing all recreational activity that has the potential for injury would have “a chilling event on anything that involves dwarfs.” Laws already exist that cover assault that dwarf tossing is alleged by critics to incite, he said.

“One person’s exploitation could be another person’s willing consent,” Boudreau said.

Padden said he has “a conservative, libertarian streak” and could see arguments on both sides of the argument. But he read a letter from a mother in his district whose son has dwarfism and wants to grow up to be an architect or engineer, not “a mythical creature, an object of entertainment.” The state wouldn’t allow similar events featuring other minority groups, such as people who are black, have Down syndrome or are lesbian, she wrote.

“To me it comes down to common decency,” Padden said.

Committee Chairman Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said the panel would vote on the bill next week.

Wordcount: 525
Published: Jan. 31, 2019, 5:24 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 31, 2019, 9:28 p.m.
Tags: 2019 Washington Legislature, dwarf tossing, Little People of America, Mike Padden, news, washington government



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Txv4nZZycBU

Apparently, dwarfs can be very active politically. I used to collect and save newspaper headlines. One of my favorites from years ago was, "Dwarfs Seek Right to Hunt with Crossbow". It seems that at the time, the only people allowed to hunt with crossbows were the disabled. There was a dwarf hunt club somewhere, whose members were claiming they were among the disabled, so that they could use crossbows.

Ah yes, liberals putting more people out of work.

Remember the Morton Downey, Jr. Show? I went to a taping and the subject was Australian Dwarf Tossing. There were a few dwarfs in the audience who got up and spoke. None of them had a problem with it. But that was 30 years ago and people get sand in their vaginas a lot more easily these days.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Ah yes, liberals putting more people out of work.

My first reaction too, except the senator who proposed the legislation is a Republican. Likely a RINO, but an R nonetheless.

Nothing gold can stay

What's next? No more dead cat throwing contests?

The work around is calling it Midget Tossing.

Until I read it, I thought this topic was about banning masturbation!

"You can't look 'em right in the eyes either.

You can't look them in the eyes?

No, that's a fact. I saw it on PBS."

From Wolf of Wall Street

if the bill fails will it be ok to say it came up short?

Well, there goes another hobby down the drain.

Jim

Dipsticks that ALWAYS want more goobermint fingers in their and your life.
As if there isn't enough already!

Does this mean there will be pre-ban, and post-ban wee lads? Will those who have their dwarves already be grandfathered? Is there a sunset clause in this?

Gimli: “Nobody Tosses A Dwarf!“

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BVD1RLX_Yuo

quote:

Originally posted by nojoy:
Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, proposed a ban on dwarf tossing and similar activities

The state wouldn’t allow similar events featuring other minority groups, such as people who are black, have Down syndrome or are lesbian, she wrote.

What are these similar activities and events, and how come we don't have them around here? I feel cheated.

Well fooey.

I've never been to the Midget Wrestling Events. I wonder if I should go before it's banned too.

Midget Wrestling At The Sugar Creek Casino

EXTREME MIDGET WRESTLING
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 8:00PM
BUY TICKETS CALL TO PURCHASE
The World's smallest wrestlers are competing for the title! An all-out Pro Wrestling War. Extreme Midget Wrestling will shock and delight you!

Advance Tickets:

Ring Side Table Seat $40.00 (Due to new liquor laws we will no longer be able to offer the drinks inclusive with ticket purchase)
Premium $30
Reserved $20
General Admission $10

I thought they quit doing this 25 years ago.

^^^ Some pretty good vids over on youtube within the last 10 years.

WHAT ABOUT A DWARF’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE?

When asked to comment, Grumpy said ”Keep your laws off my body!”