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LGBT advocates react to the Caitlyn Jenner costume

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A Halloween costume depicting Cailtyn Jenner is getting a lot of attention, and members from the LGBT community in Indianapolis hope it’s used correctly and doesn’t hurt Jenner’s equality efforts.

The corset and wig outfit mirrors what Jenner wore on Vanity Fair as she announced her transition to a woman. Using the WISH-TV app, we showed people the outfit.

“It doesn’t even look like a costume,” Indianapolis resident Semaja Edwards said. “It just looks like a regular person.”

“It’s just so expected, honestly,” Carmel resident Jaclyn Cruz said. “It doesn’t look bad.”

WISH-TV also showed the costume to Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce president, JJ Gufreda. She said Jenner has helped people like her.

And by making the costume, Gufreda wonders if it’ll hurt her efforts.

“Are they buying it to be disrespectful to someone because of who they are?” Gufreda asked. “Or are they buying it because she’s a public figure?”

Spirit Halloween is one of the places selling the costume. Spirit Halloween released this statement:

At Spirit Halloween, we create a wide range of costumes that are often based on celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes. Caitlyn Jenner is all of the above and our Caitlyn-inspired costume reflects just that.”

There are some who are angered. A petition to remove it on change.org has thousands of signatures.

Gufreda understands their frustrations but also sees why the store would sell it

“She’s a public figure,” Gufreda said. “There isn’t anyone that hasn’t heard of her.”

Although the Spirit Halloween stores are open, if you’re looking for the Jenner costume inside, you’re going to be out of the luck. The store doesn’t plan to sell it until the end of next month.

However, the company is already selling the costume on its website. So if you really want to get it now, you can.

If you do buy it, Gufreda says act respectful. And if trick-or-treaters show up in it, don’t expect much from her.

“I’m not going to hit them with a broom or anything, but they’re not getting a lot of candy,” Gufreda said.

Spirit Halloween isn’t the only site selling a Jenner costume, other online sites are selling something similar. Spirit Halloween is charging $50 for the corset and wig package.