October 27, 2008 01:31 AM Eastern Time 

Palin’s Favorite Alaska ‘Out of the Closet’ Resale Store to Be Confronted over Trademark Issue by AIDS Healthcare Foundation

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS organization in the US and operator of the popular and award winning fundraising ‘Out of the Closet’ thrift store chain in California and Florida, will host a press teleconference Monday, October 27^th at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time to raise the issue of trademark infringement by a for-profit resale clothing store in Anchorage, Alaska recently cited as a favorite by Republican Vice Presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her family. The Alaska store is operating under the same ‘Out of the Closet’ name as AHF’s fundraising chain—which first opened in 1990—and under the same name for which AHF has had registered federal trademark for many years. During the teleconference, AHF officials will also invite Governor Palin and the Republican National Committee (RNC) to consider donating the candidate’s campaign wardrobe to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s ‘Out of the Closet’ thrift store chain following the election. Revenues generated by AHF’s ‘Out of the Closet’ contribute to caring for AIDS patients in the US and abroad, as well as supporting AHF’s innovative HIV prevention and testing programs worldwide.

Last week, Politico.com reported that the Republican National Committee (RNC) purchased a $150,000 wardrobe from such stores as Neiman Marcus and Saks for Palin and her family members for campaign appearances. The news drew widespread and highly critical media coverage. During a television interview Friday morning in which she tried to put the wardrobe controversy in perspective, Governor Palin noted that she and her family are, in fact, quite frugal shoppers who favor Alaska’s ‘Out of the Closet’ resale store.

“We are grateful to Governor Palin for bringing the infringement of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s trademark on our eighteen year-old ‘Out of the Closet’ name to our attention. In addition to raising funds for the care and treatment of thousands of people with AIDS in the US and around the globe, several AHF ‘Out of the Closet’ sites also serve as free HIV and STD testing centers. A growing number are now partnered with or placed alongside full service AHF Pharmacy stores, which are open to everyone, but offer clients specific expertise in HIV/AIDS medications. AHF’s 'Out of the Closet' chain and our related services at these sites provide the community a unique opportunity to give back. We value our good name and as such, have sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the independent for-profit resale shop operating under our ‘Out of the Closet’ name in Alaska,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison also picked up on the trademark issue. In a lighthearted column posted on the Huffington Post blog (“Is Sarah Palin Biting the Hand that Dressed Her?” October 25, 2008) Morrison noted:

“We also invite Governor Palin and the Republican National Committee to give back to the community by donating the Vice Presidential candidate’s campaign wardrobe to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s ‘Out of the Closet’ following the election,” added AHF’s Weinstein. “Ninety-six cents of every dollar raised goes directly to care and services provided to HIV/AIDS patients and clients at AHF facilities in the US and around the world.”

In California, AHF’s 'Out of the Closet' chain has benefited from high profile donations including props and clothing from Director Tim Burton’s film Mars Attacks!, items from Selena, the film biography on the late Tejana superstar, and clothing and props from the television shows Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and The X Files, as well as clothing from the former ABC-TV sitcom, Grace Under Fire. In August, 1997, Producer Aaron Spelling donated over $100,000 worth of merchandise (sets from his cancelled series, Pacific Palisades) to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s 'Out of the Closet' chain. AHF’s 'Out of the Closet' stores frequently benefit from proximity to, and the generosity of donations from Los Angeles’ numerous celebrities. Past donors include Elizabeth Taylor, Carol Burnett and Ellen DeGeneres, and film and television production companies including Warner Bros.

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 83,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.