[LynnieS]

Theme park highlights challenges facing dwarfs

KUNMING, China (Reuters) – Sitting in a valley in southwest China sits an unlikely and controversial theme park -- the Little People's Kingdom of dwarfs.

Here, dwarfs perform in fairytale costumes for tourists, drawing both curious crowds and a fair share of criticism.

For many of the employees, the park is a rare opportunity to find work, and, as unlikely as it seems for men and women doing daily spoof performances of Swan Lake in tutus, respect.

Okay, yes, this does sound dodgy and disrespectful of the park's employees. At the same time, they are making a living on their own merits instead of relying on charity. I would not be surprised if the park's visitors do gawk and make fun of them, and men (regardless of height) in tutus prancing about... I'd also laugh full stop, to be honest.

In the end, though, respect and acceptance do have to be earned, IMHO; from a pioneering POV, I can't really fault this park - so long as it does try to be, well, helpful.