Re: Leprechaun Requests ?

March 16, 2006

I happen to be playing one of these so called Leprechauns this

Friday March 17th at Fantasy Springs Resort near Palm Springs

between 12pm to 8pm. Come on down if you get a chance. BTW, I get

paid handsomely and have done it for the past three years. I am an

actor and I get paid to portray that green little man. Every year,

Palm Springs Radio Stations and TV come out to interview me

regarding the event and my acting career. I also take this

opportunity to educate the listeners regarding LP's. Even one DJ

said to me today while on the phone, he's never interviewed someone

with dwarfism. It's nice to hear he was educated. The word midget

never came up.

I think it is fantastic what is happening with the recent media

blitz about LP's like the Roloffs', the Foos', my brother

and more. But please, don't speak for me regarding what jobs I can

do. Speak for yourself. I left a nice secure job many years ago as a

computer programmer and never looked back. I support my family and

make plenty.

Maybe LPA should NOT put out a press release tomorrow that says

something like: " Little People are not Leprechauns " . Maybe LPA

should put out a press release that says something like

this: " Little People have freedom of choice " .

Just my two cents.

Arturo Gil

www.arturogil.com

>

> Is anyone else in getting Leprechaun requests ? The email goes

along the lines of " ... we're

> having a party tomorrow and need a couple of little people to

dress up and party for a

> couple of hours for $x " .

>

> My reply was :

>

> No leprechauns here, just human beings under 4 feet tall.

>

> And then I went on to tell them how they should realize dwarfs are

not sitting around

> waiting for the phone to ring from someone looking for a costume

job for a couple of

> hours. Instead we have real jobs, bla bla bla.

>

> I then went on to ask the person : " If you had a dwarf baby, would

you like me to tell you

> that your kid's future was looking good because of all the world's

needs for leprechauns

> and elfs every couple of weeks or months ? Instead, we show new

parents that their kid

> can grow up to be whatever they wanted to be. I know you're just

doing your job, and

> your boss asked you to find a couple of dwarfs for a simple event

for a couple of hours, to

> extend the stereotype that has existed for thousands of years ...

but that they should think

> twice about being " part of the problem " " .

>

> Maybe LPA should put out a press release tomorrow that says

something like :

>

> " Little People are not Leprechauns "

> No room for stereotypes on St 's Day. Today, in many

communities across this

> country, we will all celebrate St Patty's Day by wearing green and

drinking beer and all

> that. It's a fun event and we all become " Irish " for just this

one day every year. But what

> would St 's Day be without leprechauns ? It's a tradition,

it's history, we have to

> have those little green men. Find a couple of dwarfs in costume

and throw them into the

> crowd to help everyone have fun.

>

> But what if dwarfs don't want to be leprechauns ? What if they

just want to go to school or

> work full-time ? Wait a minute, can't we just find a couple of

little people that just want to

> make a little extra money ? No ! Dwarfs are real people with

real lives. They are not

> available for society's entertainment. They are previously

engaged with their own human

> lives.

> To find out more about real human beings that just happen to be

under 4 feet tall, take a

> look at www.lpaonline.org

>

> This St 's Day, instead of hiring a leprechaun for a couple

of hundred dollars for

> your entertainment, make a tax-deductible contribution to Little

People of America, an

> organization that helps ensure human beings under 4 feet tall have

the same

> opportunities you do.

>

March 16, 2006

Arturo,

While I have a tremendous amount of respect for you, your family and your

brother's family (heck we've known each other since Louisiana), and I would

never make a suggestion or judgement about how a man feeds his kids, I do

understand where Joe is coming from. For those of us who " choose " not to go

into show business, it is very difficult and frustrating when co-workers,

bosses, interviewers, college professors, and potential employers make

assumptions about us based on something they may have seen on Comedy Central

or a Christmas ad.

It's almost like the struggles the African-Americans had in the 60's and

70's when the only television and movie roles they could get were thugs or

servants. And I think this image of them, in large part, got planted in the

American psyche, and it wasn't until the 80's (The Cosby Show) when people

actually started to view them with some sort commonality. Unfortunately,

media plays a huge role in the popular perceptions of this society, and too

many people out there cannot separate fact from fiction. I am glad you use

your show biz opportunities to try and educate the media about LPs. Too bad

your old pal Jimmy Kimmel didn't get the message.

One time, after giving a presentation at work (on a project I worked very

hard on), the first question out of the box from an engineer was " do you

have knees? " Later she asked if I had ever worked in a circus, or was in

the movie " Under the Rainbow. " At other jobs I have been asked if I had met

Mini-me or the guy from the " Man Show " (ironically, the answer was yes to

both). I would never dream of asking a fellow African-American employee if

he knew Denzel Washington or Oprah. It's a little deflating to one's ego

when years of education and career achievement are ignored because of a

dwarf someone saw on TV.

Bottom line is: If I were you, and chose to take the path you have chosen,

I would have no shame in what I am doing. But I would also expect to take

some flak on occasion, and I guess I would just have to grin and bear it.

My three cents. ;-)

Bill B.

On 3/16/06, arturo_gil <arturo@...> wrote:

>

> I happen to be playing one of these so called Leprechauns this

> Friday March 17th at Fantasy Springs Resort near Palm Springs

> between 12pm to 8pm. Come on down if you get a chance. BTW, I get

> paid handsomely and have done it for the past three years. I am an

> actor and I get paid to portray that green little man. Every year,

> Palm Springs Radio Stations and TV come out to interview me

> regarding the event and my acting career. I also take this

> opportunity to educate the listeners regarding LP's. Even one DJ

> said to me today while on the phone, he's never interviewed someone

> with dwarfism. It's nice to hear he was educated. The word midget

> never came up.

>

> I think it is fantastic what is happening with the recent media

> blitz about LP's like the Roloffs', the Foos', my brother

> and more. But please, don't speak for me regarding what jobs I can

> do. Speak for yourself. I left a nice secure job many years ago as a

> computer programmer and never looked back. I support my family and

> make plenty.

>

> Maybe LPA should NOT put out a press release tomorrow that says

> something like: " Little People are not Leprechauns " . Maybe LPA

> should put out a press release that says something like

> this: " Little People have freedom of choice " .

>

> Just my two cents.

>

> Arturo Gil

> www.arturogil.com

>

> >

> > Is anyone else in getting Leprechaun requests ? The email goes

> along the lines of " ... we're

> > having a party tomorrow and need a couple of little people to

> dress up and party for a

> > couple of hours for $x " .

> >

> > My reply was :

> >

> > No leprechauns here, just human beings under 4 feet tall.

> >

> > And then I went on to tell them how they should realize dwarfs are

> not sitting around

> > waiting for the phone to ring from someone looking for a costume

> job for a couple of

> > hours. Instead we have real jobs, bla bla bla.

> >

> > I then went on to ask the person : " If you had a dwarf baby, would

> you like me to tell you

> > that your kid's future was looking good because of all the world's

> needs for leprechauns

> > and elfs every couple of weeks or months ? Instead, we show new

> parents that their kid

> > can grow up to be whatever they wanted to be. I know you're just

> doing your job, and

> > your boss asked you to find a couple of dwarfs for a simple event

> for a couple of hours, to

> > extend the stereotype that has existed for thousands of years ...

> but that they should think

> > twice about being " part of the problem " " .

> >

> > Maybe LPA should put out a press release tomorrow that says

> something like :

> >

> > " Little People are not Leprechauns "

> > No room for stereotypes on St 's Day. Today, in many

> communities across this

> > country, we will all celebrate St Patty's Day by wearing green and

> drinking beer and all

> > that. It's a fun event and we all become " Irish " for just this

> one day every year. But what

> > would St 's Day be without leprechauns ? It's a tradition,

> it's history, we have to

> > have those little green men. Find a couple of dwarfs in costume

> and throw them into the

> > crowd to help everyone have fun.

> >

> > But what if dwarfs don't want to be leprechauns ? What if they

> just want to go to school or

> > work full-time ? Wait a minute, can't we just find a couple of

> little people that just want to

> > make a little extra money ? No ! Dwarfs are real people with

> real lives. They are not

> > available for society's entertainment. They are previously

> engaged with their own human

> > lives.

> > To find out more about real human beings that just happen to be

> under 4 feet tall, take a

> > look at www.lpaonline.org

> >

> > This St 's Day, instead of hiring a leprechaun for a couple

> of hundred dollars for

> > your entertainment, make a tax-deductible contribution to Little

> People of America, an

> > organization that helps ensure human beings under 4 feet tall have

> the same

> > opportunities you do.

> >

>

> ===

>

March 17, 2006

I am always receiving calls from local radio stations,

television stations, and businesses begging me to be either a leprechaun, or

a elf, or a fairy even, willing to pay loads of money

I could actually use, but I absolutely refuse to do such work.

Why?

Because I was born at a time when there were no resources

whatsoever for parents of LP's---at a time when doctors told my

parents to send me to the circus, because THAT would be ALL I

would ever be good for.

No, they did not send me off to a circus, but because they had such

insecure issues of their own, and were very ashamed and

horrified that a child of theirs was a dwarf, they then spent many years

trying to drown such insecurities and shame in alcohol, beating their child,

ridiculing their child, hoping she would disappear, never hugging her, and

reminding her constantly of how " wrong " she was, how " ugly " she was, and how

embarrassing it was for THEM when people stared or made comments, and how THEIR

lives were ruined because of me.

So to put this very mildly, my childhood was hell.

By the time I left them at seventeen, I was terribly withdrawn

and frightened of the world, had major insecurity issues and

self-esteem issues like you would NOT believe. Not to mention

never knowing other LP's until recently here online. But despite

all that, there was still one thing they didn't take away---my sheer

determination to surmount such horrors, and have a full life.

Through years of loving " adoptive parents, " loving friends

and the BEST friends one could ever hope for, besides my own sheer

determination to surmount it all, I FINALLY was able to reach a place in MY

life, to

where I could not only ACCEPT myself, but even FEEL GOOD about myself from

DEEP WITHIN, and NOT

cringe anymore when encountering the rudeness we all do, and

NOT feel ashamed about my " uniqueness. "

So for ME at least, to dress up as a Leprechaun would be like

putting myself right back into the hell I have fought so hard to put behind

me.

Adelaide

March 17, 2006

Arturo and all,

Let me be blunt lol I have not received " Wanna be a

leprechaun? " e-mail but I did receive one from the

producer of the Jimmy Kimmel show. Let me be frank and

say how to me he is a puke. I have never met anyone

more ignorant and have treated a group of people more

rude than him. I e-mailed the producer back and I was

very polite but to the point. She saw my website and

the pictures of past talent shows on it and wanted to

get in touch with the people on them. I told her in no

way would I help and I said we both know you are not

looking for " talent " you are looking for people to

make fun of, and if she didn't know that then she

doesn't know dear Jimmy.

Let me also be frank and say being short does not mean

one has talent! Being short is as much a talent as

being tall. Now I will say however that there ARE some

truly talented LP's out there and it's ashame they can

only get crap jobs for the most part. Why should they

take us seriously when no one is willing to stand up

to those who exploit us when it comes to acting? Why

should you actors only settle for Leprechauns or

Mini-Me's?? I feel some of you are worthy of having

roles in movies that have absolutely nothing to do

with your dwarfism and I hope someday it will happen.

I am not saying never do those roles but why does it

have to be ONLY those types of roles???

Lastly why blast us who feel this way? I have every

right to want things better for my fellow lp's. I

agree with Bill, LP's playing those types of roles are

just like Black people playing slaves and mammies from

back in the 30's and 40's. When is it going to be

" our " turn to have equality in the spotlight???

Flame away people, I'm ready!

-

P.S Leprechauns have NOTHING to do with the origin of

St.'s Day. This day is actually a Catholic Holy

Day - yes I am Catholic. (Angry Irish Woman here)

www.historychannel.com/exhibits/stpatricksday/

__________________________________________________

March 17, 2006

Here Here,

Bill you bring up a great point. One I never really thought about.

For all the crap we endure with a smile or biting our tongues because

of (certain) acts people choose to do, the criticisms and concerns

Joe Foos expresses on behalf of his

family pale in comparison.

I believe it's far worse to be walking down the street and be asked

if you do dwarf tossing, know minnie-me, or whatever, than read an e-

mail on this list by a dad just offering one man's opinion.

Arturo you have every right to choose whatever role you want and your

post brings up many good points too. But for these of us that don't

want to be in the spotlight, a little criticism on here is nothing

compared to what some of the examples Bill points out.

On Mar 17, 2006, at 2:48 AM, Bill Bradford wrote:

> Bottom line is: If I were you, and chose to take the path you have

> chosen,

> I would have no shame in what I am doing. But I would also expect

> to take

> some flak on occasion, and I guess I would just have to grin and

> bear it.

>

> My three cents. ;-)

> Bill B.

March 17, 2006

>One time, after giving a presentation at work (on a project I worked

very hard on), the first question out of the box from an engineer was

" do you have knees? " Later she asked if I had ever worked in a

circus, or was in the movie " Under the Rainbow. " <

I'm always amazed (and not sure why) when a stupid question comes from

someone over-educated. It's almost like they spent so much time

focused on something out of the realm of my thought process that they

forgot to attend 'Common Sense 101'.

>It's a little deflating to one's ego when years of education and

career achievement are ignored because of a dwarf someone saw on TV.<

Unfortunately it's not only based on a recent TV experience, some

still have not outgrown the side-show mentality. So a few green

(make-up and in their pocket) Leprechaun appearances today (I think)

won't make much of a difference. The engineers (geeks) and the Ph.D.s

will be at home, nose up in a book and not thinking out of the box.

There will unfortunately always be an idiot rock in our path at one

time or another.

>Bottom line is: If I were you, and chose to take the path you have

chosen, I would have no shame in what I am doing. But I would also

expect to take some flak on occasion, and I guess I would just have to

grin and bear it.<

And I suppose for our fellow community members to have freedom of

choice, on St Patty's day a few of us will also have to grin and bear

it. Maybe I'll go out and slap some flak today.

Love ya both!

March 17, 2006

>Why should they take us seriously when no one is willing to stand up

to those who exploit us when it comes to acting? Why should you actors

only settle for Leprechauns or Mini-Me's??<

I think a much more fair statement is " also still being offerend

.......while plays Othello? " . Roles for actors with dwarfism have

expanded. We can't deny (for example, albeit my favorite example)

's roles are out of the box. And Meredith and Arturo (Oye Dude,

cut pic on IMDB) have played everyday individuals also.

I was laughing, because I see Arturo played a 'midget wrestler' on

some show or movie and I thought to myself; what an uproar there would

be if a short/petite AH was picked to play the role (or there should

be!!).

>LP's playing those types of roles are just like Black people playing

slaves and mammies from back in the 30's and 40's.<

Notice how recent a phenomenon the Cosby Show is for the

African-American community. (maybe it's because I've watched the

portrayals as they appeared, not in re-runs? is relevance age

related?) It appeared in 1984, and I bet if I had the time I can trace

the negative portrayal of blacks right up until that show. And it

didn't stop there, but it gave 'america' a different point of view. It

allowed the masses to meet the same type of family some of us had

known for years.

Mind you, even now it isn't positive paradise even for that community,

just watch MTV/VHS or any music video. And I'm sure on some shows I

don't watch. But, it did open the doors up for a broader and more

realistic representation of the community.

>I feel some of you are worthy of having roles in movies that have

absolutely nothing to do with your dwarfism and I hope someday it will

happen.<

I'm not sure who our Cosby will be. I think he/she is still in the

grooming stages. Somehow, some producer in TV-la-la-land needs to pick

up on the fact (and maybe after the Roloff spectacular it will click

in someone's head-see I can find it's positive points also) that any

sitcom family can have a member with dwarfism. Any work related sitcom

can have an employee with dwarfism. Maybe we're not the cops in CSI,

but we can be the scientist.

It takes a whole lot of lip service for the world to hear us, to know

us. How long did Cosby do stand up? And who actually bankrolled his

family sitcom?

Maybe it's time I spoke to Letterman about sitting to his right and

spreading the news. I promise not to do a 'drew barrymore'

>P.S Leprechauns have NOTHING to do with the origin of St.'s

Day. This day is actually a Catholic Holy Day - yes I am Catholic.

(Angry Irish Woman here<

Nothing other than they are legend strongly associated with Ireland

The other day we had an evening program " The Irish in Politics in NJ "

or something to that effect. My staff was creating publicity for the

program and I could hear them pulling out their hair and cursing the

choices of clip art they found associated with 'irish'. They finally

found something they were happy with, (I could finally hear the " did

you know that the ...?... is a symbol of... " .. without the sound of

frustation in their voices) but it evidently wasn't an easy search.

And I should say it was a wonderful evening of charming stories. Not a

typical political discussion. The Irish have a long political history

in NJ and the legacy is carried on in our panel members. The panel was

moderated by our own 'Scholar in Residence - Terry Golway', who I

refer to as 'I write about everything Irish'. I find him so charming

and funny that the man can invite me to a reading of the phone book.

On a seperate and associated thread of thought, I happen to widipedia

the word 'leprechaun' and one of the last lines says " In Irish

mythology, a leprechaun (Modern Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male

elf said to inhabit the island of Ireland. ...blah...blah...blah...

They are said to be very rich, having many treasure crocks buried

during war-time. [1] While anyone keeps his eye fixed upon them, they

cannot escape, but the moment the eye is withdrawn they vanish. "

Hmmmm

Dating Ad: Ancient (but sexy) Cubana looking for her Pre-Celtic Irish

Prince. Bring pot (but leave the crock of...at home)! I'll keep an eye

(or 2) on it for you

March 17, 2006

Adelaide,

Sometimes I think there should be " screening " before people can

become parents. You are definitely an overcomer and I find that

very admirable.

Take Care,

Kim

In dwarfism , BASHUM7894@... wrote:

>

> I am always receiving calls from local radio stations,

> television stations, and businesses begging me to be either a

leprechaun, or

> a elf, or a fairy even,

March 17, 2006

Hi Adelaide, and everyone else reading this...

I just joined this website, I am not a little person but last month I was

blessed with a wonderful gift from God, my grandson who was born with

achondroplasia. He is the most beautiful and perfect angel I have ever seen in

my life! I cannot imagine life without him.He brings me so much joy!

Adelaide I cannot imagine your parents feeding you so much emotional garbage!

I am so glad you are out of that situation!

When my daugher and her husband found out that their baby was a little person

their reaction to the doctor was " phew! is that all? thank God! So he is a

little person? well we thought you were going to tell us maybe there was

something wrong with him! "

Praise God for a wonderful daughter who will bring up a wonderful person to be

a succesful and productive citizen, who is loved and nurtured and well accepted

by his family. I am so sorry you had to endure such an abusive life, hats off to

you and may God have mercy on those who humiliate others. You are one brave

woman, I admire your fortitude. Thank you for sharing your story, it has helped

me so much. Lord forbid that I am ever guilty of making my grandson feel the way

your parents made you feel.

Aurora

BASHUM7894@... wrote: