The Ministry for Equality belonging to the Junta de Andalucía has warned the Baza Town Hall to retract its sponsorship of the Dwalf Bullfight event.

Yes, you read it correctly. Baza was to hold a comedy, bull fight involving dwarves, or whatever the political correct term for diminutive people is; i.e., for people suffering from the medical condition of Achondroplasia.

Now, Minister, Rocio Ruíz, wrote to the Dirección General de Personas con Discapacidad e Inclusión informing its Head, Marcial Gómez Balsera, about Baza’s intentions

Both entities were concerned by the ‘negative/demeaning’ spectacle, which could constitute an offence under the Ley 4/2017, article 84.3 concerning the rights of people with handicaps. Sr Gómez Balsera says that the spectacle should not go ahead and thus “save the dignity” of people with handicaps.

The fact is that the Baza Town Hall ran the risk of being fined should the wheels of vicarious indignation turn.

The collaboration provided by the Town Hall were 25 chairs and to allow tickets to be sold at the Casa de La Cultural. Also, the municipal shield emblem appears on the poster, although this last point does appear to be without permission from the Town Hall.

The event organisers had all the necessary licences and permits from the Junta de Andalucía, as well as from the Town Hall.

Such was the building pressure from those that feel they have the right to feel offended for others that the event was suspended by the event organisers.

This same roadshow had already performed on the 6th of August in Extremadura and a similar show had gone ahead in Huelva, entitled, Popeye Torero.

Daniel Calderón, who is the Manager of the Baza event, which was billed under the name of Diversión en el Ruedo y sus Enanitos Toreros (Fun in the Ring with the Bullfighter Dwarves) explained that the show was put together in 2015 and gives employment to 15 people, eight of whom have achondroplasia. He prefers to call them “bullfighters.” And before somebody posts the question… no, Snow White is not amongst the 15 staff members.

“They are free, professionals and card-holding entertainers (issued by the Ministerio de Cultura) and who pay their Seguridad Social,” explained Sr. Calderón.

Editorial comment: now 15 people are out of work because politicians want to be seen doing something, even if it means putting people out of work. Should dwarves, or ‘stature-challenged people’ (or  whatever the bloody term is) not be able to act in films, either?

I am aware that “handicapped” may not be politically correct anymore, either, in this politically correct dictatorship in which we live (rolling-eyed emoticon needed).

(News: Baza, Altiplano, Granada, Andalucia)