‘Dwarf tossing’ draws ire of parent, councillor
‘We’re just giving people what they want,’ club owner says amid criticism
The NuDen strip club is defending an upcoming “dwarf toss” competition while critics, including the councillor for the ward where the cabaret is located, are lobbying to shut the event down.
David Zito, a former director of Little People of Ontario, and father to six-year-old Jaxine, who has a form of dwarfism, called the event “reckless and objectifying ” after he saw an advertisement posted to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.
Zito has spent years advocating and raising awareness for the rights of people of small stature.
“How can our city allow a business to objectify and demean a particular group of people by having them tossed in a strip club?” said Zito. “To see this, it just sets us back 30 years every time it happens. In this day and age, it’s just unacceptable. It’s crass, it’s tasteless. We see so many other awareness campaigns going on, we’re just surprised that this keeps happening,”
Zito brought his complaint to Alta Vista Coun. Jean Cloutier, who called the planned event “highly inappropriate, violent and disrespectful, to say the least.”
Cloutier brought the issue to the city ’s bylaw and legal departments “to find out what can be done.”
Dwarf-tossing, billed as a competition in which a little person in a harness is thrown by participants, is not illegal in Ontario.
A private member’s bill introduced at Queen’s Park in 2003 — brought to the floor by then-MPP Sandra Pupatello in response to similar contests hosted by a strip club in Windsor — died after first reading.
Chris Pettit, co-owner and operator at the NuDen, said he harboured some reservations when he was approached about hosting the event.
“I kinda thought the same thing when they approached us: Is this morally ethical? But from our standpoint, wouldn’t it be morally unethical to say he (the performer) can’t be tossed if he wants to? If he wants to be tossed, I believe that’s his right,” said Pettit.
He noted the performer — whose name or contact information he declined to share — has “made a lot of money.”
Pettit said the adult cabaret has branched out in recent years by featuring circus acts, sideshows, aerialists, and, yes, little people.
“We don’t make the market. We’re just giving people what they want,” said Pettit.
“It’s 2018 and we’re trying to go mainstream. We’re a modern-day Hooters, and we truly believe we’re putting the entertainment back in the industry.”
Allan Redford, president of Little People of Canada, called that notion “nonsense.”
“It is absolutely objectifying people with dwarfism to the extent they’re becoming pieces of equipment to toss around,” said Redford. “It takes their humanity away.” Redford said he was hesitant to comment publicly, fearing any publicity would only serve to draw attention to the event.
Redford referenced the story of Martin Henderson, a 37-year-old British actor who was picked up and thrown outside a pub while out celebrating his birthday. He suffered severe injuries and had to use a wheelchair after the incident, which authorities believe was inspired by an English rugby player who notoriously attended a “dwarftossing ” contest in New Zealand.
Henderson later died, and Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage paid tribute to the man in his 2012 acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
“That’s exactly what we’re afraid of — the objectification that makes it dangerous,” said Redford.
Redford also referenced a scene in the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, which includes a scene depicting characters participating in a similar event.
“That scene, though, was trying to show characters that were reprehensible to begin with,” said Redford. “People with no morals (participating in) complete exploitation.”
Redford called on the province to pass a law banning the events in Ontario.
There is nothing currently on the books, at the federal, provincial or municipal level, that would prevent the event from going ahead, Redford said.
Jake Gravelle, acting director of Ottawa’s bylaw and regulatory services, said the department is aware of the NuDen’s event, planned for March 1, but said, “There are no additional permits required.”
Zito has complained to the city about the NuDen before.
In September, he objected to a billboard near St. Laurent Boulevard advertising a “Midget stripper” who performed at the club.
“That word in our community is very demeaning, and our association has been trying to raise awareness about the use of that word. It’s a turn-of-the-century term and we’ve taken so many steps in trying to change people’s views on that word, and then we see it on a billboard,” said Zito.
To the club’s credit, said Zito, the billboard was removed, though the event went ahead as planned. Posters for the September showcase can still be seen on the club’s Facebook page.
An advertisement for the March 1 event, billed by the club as the “Mighty Dwarf Toss Tournament,” has been shared more than 100 times since it was posted Tuesday, and garnered dozens of comments.
“What gets me though is when I see these events advertised, and people commenting, I don’t see anyone saying ‘Stop this. This is terrible,’” said Zito. “I just see 20and 30-year-olds saying, ‘Hey we can’t miss this.’”
To see this, it just sets us back 30 years every time it happens. In this day and age, it’s just unacceptable. It’s crass, it’s tasteless.