Dwarf-tossing, also called midget-tossing, is a pub/bar attraction or activity in which people with dwarfism, wearing special padded clothing or Velcro costumes, are thrown onto mattresses or at Velcro-coated walls.
Dwarf tossing can increase the risk of injury and exacerbate these conditions, as it applies forces to the spine and other vulnerable parts of the body.
This dehumanization is perceived as detrimental because it undermines the concept of inherent human dignity, suggesting that individuals can be used in a way that disregards their autonomy and respect.
[16] This private member's public bill did not proceed beyond its introduction to second or third readings, nor did it receive royal assent, and therefore died at the close of the 37th Legislature.
The bill was hastily advanced in response to a dwarf-tossing contest[17] that was held at Leopard's Lounge in Windsor, Ontario with a dwarf nicknamed "Tripod".
Throwing at roosters and fox tossing, also known as blood sport, illustrates the human tendency to use living beings as objects in unusual forms of amusement.
Although initially considered folk sports, these customs were eventually criticized and suppressed due to ethical concerns and the well-being of the involved animals.
This evolution emphasizes the relationship between human entertainment, ethics, and the treatment of living beings as objects for amusement, with contemporary societies becoming more aware of the need to respect the dignity and well-being of individuals and animals.
A scene in the 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers shows the dwarf Gimli reluctantly requesting the character Aragorn to "toss" him across a dangerous gap that he cannot jump.
In the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, a room full of boisterous stockbrokers can be seen taking turns hurling two dwarfs wearing helmets at a large dartboard, with the main character, Jordan Belfort, offering a $25,000 reward to the first "cock-sucker to nail a bullseye".
The non-profit organization Little People of America released a statement stating they were "angry, disappointed and concerned" that the film "includes dwarf tossing scenes.
[...] No matter the intent of The Wolf of Wall Street, any portrayal of dwarf tossing carries the risk of condoning the objectification of and abuse against people with dwarfism.
As The Wolf of Wall Street continues to play in theaters, Little People of America hopes that movie audiences, Martin Scorsese, and Leonardo DiCaprio join us in condemning dwarf tossing and the threatening behavior it promotes.