I hate “gay Halloween,” because why are we dressing up as Kelly Clarkson and the mechanical bird? (IYKYK) In case you’re chronically offline — or not queer —, allow me to enlighten you: Nobody is actually hating on “gay Halloween.” The phrase comes from a meme where people dress as a very niche, oftentimes queer-coded, internet reference, and make fun of themselves for it. Think of it as people dressing up as viral memes, only gayer.
Halloween is right around the corner, which means it’s time for costumes, parties, and tons of fun. If you think about it, it’s basically the gayest holiday of the year because c’mon — what’s more gay than being able to spend the night out dressed as a campy icon? IDK about you, but as a queer person, I kind of want to see more costume variety. Like yes, you can dress up as Frank-N-Furter again or go as Bubbline with your girlfriend, but where’s the originality? The creativity? This is where the “gay Halloween” meme comes in.
So, if you also hate (or love) “gay Halloween,” I’ve come up with a list of 13 costumes inspired by very niche, queer internet references — and they’re also last-minute-friendly. (Score!) Without further ado, here are 13 hilarious gay Halloween meme-inspired costumes. And if you get any of these references, then you definitely know queer ball!
- Hudson Williams in Super Support
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Real Hudson Williams fans will get this one! To dress up as Hudson Williams from the short film, Super Support, all you’ll need is a black mask, some drawn-on whiskers, a cheetah print bra, and some matching shorts.
- “Bags” by Clairo
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What’s scarier than being in love with your best friend and not being able to tell her? This one is for all my yearning sapphics (IYKYK). All you’ll need for this costume is a white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and sneakers. Find a paper bag, cut some holes for your arms and your head, and there you have it!
- Cameron Diaz as Malkina
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If you’re chronically online and on gay Twitter, then you’ve probably seen the meme of Cameron Diaz playing Malkina in The Counselor go viral. To dress up as this niche Twitter meme, all you’ll need is dark, smudged makeup and a black hoodie.
- The “Holding Space” meme
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This would be a hilarious duo costume to go as. One person could dress as Cynthia Erivo and wear a green beanie, a green dress, and have extremely long fingernails. The other person can go as Ariana Grande by wearing a pink dress. Hold onto your friend’s fingernail, and you are now the “Holding Space” meme. If you want this to be a solo costume, totally doable! Just go as Cynthia and hold a sign that says space.
- The “Conventionally Attractive Lesbian” meme
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In May 2026, a clip of TikToker @spacey_nicks lip-syncing to the song “Crave You” by Flight Facilities with the caption “What life feels like as a conventionally attractive lesbian,” went viral, and since then, it’s become a popular meme in the queer community. This costume is simple. All you’ll need is a short pink bob wig and a black shirt.
@ohmontaine - Challengers tennis ball POV
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This costume references the closing scene from the movie Challengers, which has become a popular joke on queer film TikTok. All you’ll need to do is wear a monochromatic neon green outfit and carry around a camera. Bonus points if you wear a headband with POV written on it.
- Chappell Roan and Her Passenger Seat
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This costume is anything but casual. For this costume, one person could dress up as a passenger seat while the other person dresses up as Chappell Roan by wearing a cowboy hat, gloves, a pink fringed bodysuit, and cowgirl boots.
@hotfunnysmartmotti i hate gay halloween what do you mean youre the passenger seat from casual by chappell roan #chappellroan #casual #halloween #gayhalloween ♬ Casual – Chappell Roan - A queer barista
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I’m pretty sure we’ve all seen the memes and jokes about how queer baristas make the best coffee. All you’ll need for this costume is an apron and a cup of coffee.
- “Yassified” Mary Poppins theater girl
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If you’ve been on TikTok, then you’ve probably seen the clip of a girl playing Mary Poppins and singing a yassified version of “Feed the Birds.” To recreate this costume, all you’ll need is a black hat, a navy blue coat, a red scarf, and — of course — a lot of highlighter on your cheekbones.
@lynnboyaji I’m her BIGGEST FAN! #theatre #theatrekid #musicaltheatre #marypoppins #halloween ♬ original sound – fia🫐 - The Lady Gaga fan who performed“Judas” on stage at her concert
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Anyone else know this deep cut? In 2013, Lady Gaga invited a fan on stage to dance alongside her and her dancers to “Judas.” And the rest? It’s gay history. To reference the viral clip, all you need to do is wear an orange jacket and a black bandana. And, of course, bust out the “Judas” choreography.
- Kelly Clarkson and the mechanical bird
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The meme that broke the internet this October: Kelly Clarkson and her feud about a mechanical bird. To do this costume, dress up in a yellow tee, a hat, a backpack, and a pair of blue jeans. You can carry around a yellow bird, or even enlist a friend to be the bird.
@deboraliens Replying to @Lol here’s one u can do with a partner 👍 #kellyclarkson #mollythebird #artofplay #mechanicalbird #whatdoesntkillyoumakesyoustronger ♬ original sound – Betches - Boygenius
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This costume idea is perfect for my queer trios. To dress up as Boygenius, everyone in the group needs to wear a white dress shirt, a black tie, a black blazer, and black slacks.
- Massachusetts COVID-conscious lesbian bar regular
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Lesbians, this one is for you. The Massachusetts COVID-conscious lesbian bar went viral in September, and spawned thousands of memes. To dress up as this niche reference, mask up, make a fake protest sign, and carry the lesbian flag. Representing and keeping that immune system safe!
@jesswells58 #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhalloweencostumes #covidconsciouslesbianbar #halloween2024 ♬ Casual – Chappell Roan
OK, so maybe I actually love “gay Halloween” after all.