A charity has said it is "very pleased" a wrestling event involving people with dwarfism has been cancelled. Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling was due to take place in Leicester in October, but Morningside Arena dropped it due to the "tone of promotion". The Restricted Growth Association (RGA) compared the event to a "freak show". Organisers said the show was about people with dwarfism being equal and that the fighters were "pro athletes".
I think that this is absurd. I would perhaps understand the outrage if the people involved in this event were somehow coerced or tricked into participating, but the participants in this event are all adults who wrestle as a career. They clearly chose to be involved in this sort of thing. I don't understand the perspective of the RGA on this, as I would assume that not allowing people with disabilities to have these kinds of events is a bigger issue? While the event is still being held in Cardiff, Torquay, Swansea and Liverpool, even a single event being canceled can still negatively affect the performers. Disabled people also face various obstacles regarding access to and inclusion in employment opportunities, so surely it is wrong to interfere in legal and fairly safe work that a disabled person is doing with their clear and informed consent?
Who is right here? Is the RGA right in what it is saying about this event? Is the event akin to a "Victorian spectacle"? Or should the wrestlers be allowed to continue this work unimpeded?
Thoughts, NSG?