HARRISBURG — A state representative from Philadelphia who might dress up for Halloween as a “zombie Daryl Metcalfe” insists his possible costume is a joke and in good fun.

But state Rep. Metcalfe of Cranberry Township isn’t laughing.

Metcalfe, R-12th, has sparred with Rep. Brian Sims, D-182nd, most notably several months ago when Metcalfe blocked Sims from speaking on the floor of the House.

Sims, the first openly gay member in the Legislature, planned to speak in support of gay marriage in Pennsylvania before Metcalfe barred him from talking.

Earlier this week, Sims posted a message on his Facebook page, urging supporters to visit a fundraising site. For $10, supporters can cast a vote as to which costume Sims should wear for a Halloween party.

The options, aside from “zombie Daryl Metcalfe,” include a “bearded Ted Cruz” and two nonpolitical costume ideas.

Money donated on the site goes to funding Sims’ re-election campaign.

Joe Corrigan, the executive director of Sims’ political action committee, said Wednesday that the “zombie Daryl Metcalfe” costume is winning the contest, although he declined to say by how much.

Corrigan added that the idea to combine Halloween costumes and political fundraising is “absolutely in good fun and completely in the spirit of the holidays.”

“I think even Representative Metcalfe can agree that political fundraising isn’t always the most fun thing to do,” Corrigan said. “Any time we have fun with it, it’s always a treat. There’s no malice behind it.”

However, Metcalfe strongly disagreed.

“I’ve never seen anything like that done by any honorable member of the Legislature in the past,” Metcalfe said.

He added that Sims has made “derogatory” and “slanderous” comments about him in the past, and that the Halloween costume idea fits with that.

“It’s another over-the-top type of initiative by the man from Philadelphia and his efforts to gain traction for his issues and his homosexual agenda,” Metcalfe said.