October 30, 2008

Palin’s Fave Thrift Shop Infringes on AIDS Charity

After causing a stir for her reported $150,000 campaign wardrobe, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin revealed while campaigning in Florida that she’s “back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska.” CBS News reports. She said it’s called Out of the Closet! and is an upscale for-profit resale store.

However, Out of the Closet is the name of a charitable thrift-store chain in California and Florida run by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), according to The Huffington Post. When the company learned of the Alaskan store, it issued a cease and desist order claiming that the store Palin frequents is infringing on its trademark.

"We are grateful to Governor Palin for bringing the infringement of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s trademark on our 18-year-old Out of the Closet name to our attention,” AHF said in a statement. “In addition to raising funds for the care and treatment of thousands of people with AIDS in the United States and around the globe, several AHF Out of the Closet sites also serve as free HIV and STD testing centers. AHF’s Out of the Closet chain and our related services at these sites provide the community a unique opportunity to give back.”

The statement concluded by invited Palin and the Republican National Committee “to give back to the [HIV/AIDS] community by donating the vice presidential candidate’s campaign wardrobe to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Out of the Closet following the election.”

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