I Don't See What's So Offensive About The Caitlyn Jenner Halloween Costume

CNBC - It’s nowhere near October, but one ensemble is already on track to be named the most controversial Halloween costume of 2015. Social media users were out in full force on Monday criticizing several Halloween retailers for offering a Caitlyn Jenner costume reminiscent of the former-athlete’s Vanity Fair cover earlier this year. While Jenner’s supporters condemned the costume as “transphobic” and “disgusting” on Twitter, Spirit Halloween, a retailer that carries the costume, defended the getup. “At Spirit Halloween, we create a wide range of costumes that are often based upon celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes,” said Lisa Barr, senior director of marking at Spirit Halloween. “We feel that Caitlyn Jenner is all of the above and that she should be celebrated. The Caitlyn Jenner costume reflects just that.” Despite the company’s stated intentions, transgender activists are lashing out. “Do not turn Cailtyn Jenner into a costume. Your profit will only lead to greater transphobia and marginalization of an already at-risk community,” wrote Addison Vincent, the creator of a Change.org petition asking Spirit Halloween to discontinue sales of the costume.

———

I don’t see what’s so offensive about this at all. Transgender people should be stoked. They’re getting the recognition for their cause that other people could only dream of. The lady from the costume shop nailed it:

“At Spirit Halloween, we create a wide range of costumes that are often based upon celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes,” said Lisa Barr, senior director of marking at Spirit Halloween. “We feel that Caitlyn Jenner is all of the above and that she should be celebrated.”

There is nothing that is a bigger honor than being the big Halloween costume of the year. It means people are paying attention. It means you are on people’s minds. If on Halloween someone put on a onesie, shaved a receding hairline, and was too scared to talk to girls all night, I’d be thrilled. Biggest honor of my life.

When it comes down to it, transgender people are mainstream now. That should be awesome for them. I don’t get how they don’t realize this. People dress up as Elton John Halloween, doesn’t mean they are mocking gay people. Caitlyn Jenner has a reality show. She’s a public figure. It’s a no-brainer Halloween costume.

PS: Still doesn’t beat my favorite costume, Anna Rexia.