In case you missed it, the popular pop-up Halloween retailer Spirit Halloween has recently drawn ire after unveiling what many are calling a tasteless costume for Caitlyn Jenner.
But according to the company, and internet commenters, it’s totally not transphobic.
Trisha Lombardo, a representativ
e from Spirit Halloween, told the New York Times that the costume was meant to celebrate Caitlyn. “Caitlyn Jenner has proven to be the most important real-life superhero of the year. Spirit Halloween is proud to carry the costume that celebrates her,” she said. Of course, this explanation is coming from the same company that just discontinued the “Call Me Caitlyn Mr. Olympian Costume Kit.” I guess they felt that one was just TOO much… somehow, it was deemed even worse than the “Tranny Granny Men’s Costume” that they currently have for sale on their site right now.
Look, suicide continues to plague the trans community and trans people are being murdered around the world at alarming rates, all while news media continues to misgender us, use our dead names. We’re also constantly being publicly targeted, mocked, and smeared by major outlets such as Fox News and the Chicago Sun Times (among countless others).
Then in comes Spirit Halloween marketing a costume of a trans woman not by having a woman wear it, but by throwing a hairy chested, stubble faced man in a dress and wig. You can try and defend it all you want as just “poking fun at Caitlyn” but the fact is that this costume re-enforces the transphobic view that trans people are a joke and that trans women are just ‘men in dresses’. The product description on anytimecostumes.com really drives this point home:
Everyone has seen Vanity Fair’s popular July cover, so you’ll be easily recognized this Halloween when you dress up in the Call Me Caitlyn Unisex Adult Costume. With the items in the set, you’ll be able to emulate her picture perfect look for the upcoming party this year. Included are a white padded top and matching shorts as well as a brunette wig so that you can dress as the softer side of the popular Olympian. A sash that says “call me Caitlyn” also comes with the set so that there will be no mistaking who you are dressed as this Halloween. You probably won’t break any Twitter records when you wear this outfit like Caitlyn did when she first made her account, but you’ll be sure to get a few laughs out of your friends and the other guests at the get together.
Oh right, I almost forgot. Trans people are always good for a laugh with your friends.
Happy Halloween.
UPDATE: After I directly tweeted Spirit Halloween, calling out their blatantly transphobic “Tranny Granny” costume, the product’s name has magically been changed to “Granny Men’s Costume”. However, the slur “tranny” still remains in the product’s URL http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/tranny-granny-mens-costume/104098.uts
Pingback: “Why are stores still promoting tranny granny Halloween costumes”.I could be peanuts but maybe it’s to draw the bigots out in to the open so they can be identified. Personally I think the costumes are just as insulting to grandmas as they are to trans people. I like my grandma. She’s a kind soul with a lovely heart who still mischievous enough to behave just like me, a naughty little school girl who likes to sit in the back row and poke fun at the teacher. 😉
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