I don't necessarily agree with your previous message, but I do agree it's a bit unfair to include the identity of the person who was misgendered in this post. It isn't even a guarantee that they were the person who took serious issue with what OP said. They may not have even reported OP. So it seems unfair to call them out, even if the intent was to provide context.
Well, the bottom line is we have little context except for the response email and the appearance of the costumes. So avoiding pure conjecture and not assuming the worst in people:
Those are ghost costumes, worn by ill advised staff.
I think if one is being completely hypersensitive, maybe, at a stretch. A quick DDG search for "klan robes" and then "ghost sheets" indicates a pretty large distinction, though. And the ghost in sunglasses motif isn't new.
But I do agree with your second point, in general, given the context that this is a polling center.
If you continue to have trouble but still want a Debian experience, might I recommend MX Linux. I cut my teeth on that for a long time, and it was a really great experience for me. And the installer is super easy to navigate.
On one hand, I do believe that when you are online in a nonprofessional capacity, you should be using a pseudonym. One of the many negative influences social networking has had on the netsphere, is now people just broadcast everything under their actual identity. I think that's such a huge mistake, from an opsec standpoint and beyond.
That being said, I partake in a lot of activities under online pseudonym that personal me identifies with and enjoys. I suppose I don't need those accomplishments associated with day-to-day me to feel satisfied.
However, I also like to sew little bits of falsehood into my online presence, for both shits and giggles as well as creating more of a proxy between identities.
I'm a US citizen and I wish I could avoid it.