If you're from Capitol Hill, odds are you a rainbow aficionado, a lover of Dickies, and a thrifter. The district's staple thrift shop for some of the best deals on gender-affirming clothing, Lifelong Thrift, is closing later this month and rebranding under a new nonprofit. But just a few blocks away rests Out of the Closet and its plethora of colorful products.
Most of the inventory at Out of the Closet is between three and six dollars, and it's a place where people can find some wacky wonders.
"I think, especially in Capitol Hill, you don't have a lot of places like this, like, all the other stores are super expensive," Kent Renda, a Seattle University student, told the SGN.
Yet it's a unique sort of business. While it still serves the neighborhood's passion for fashion, it does so with a purpose.
Out of the Closet works with the nonprofit AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to provide free services, including pharmacy products for people living with HIV or testing for those who want it.
"That's really what's most important, because if they don't get that medication, they're at risk of their life," Dylan, an employee, told the SGN. On Capitol Hill, Dylan says he sees 15 to 18 people per day.
The AHF is a global nonprofit that provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS care worldwide. In addition, it focuses on affordable housing and has expanded its global reach to over 45 countries, through over 22 Out of the Closet locations.
The prices for antiretroviral HIV medication without assistance are also egregious, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per month.
"Lemme tell you this: It ain't cheap. Without those programs it's like $14,000 [annually]," said Marcus of Changes Bar in Wallingford, who has lost many friends to the disease. "I've been to over a hundred funerals... It's been 34 years. It's easy to get care, but you have to be willing to do it."
HIV is a part of Capitol Hill life. A stroll to some of the most popular businesses, like Elliott Bay Book Company and Cafe Ladro, will lead you along the AIDS Memorial Pathway. Cal Anderson Park, the heart of the neighborhood, is crowned by an AIDS memorial.
"You had a death sentence then. People were dropping off like flies. I can't even tell you how many friends I lost," said Marcus.
Recent news threatens a return to that scary place. The 60-day freeze on US foreign aid, including funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has created significant uncertainty in the fight against HIV/AIDS globally. While a temporary waiver from the State Department allows for continued distribution of HIV medications, it remains unclear if other essential services are fully covered.
There's also the fear for the truth. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is known to think that recreational drug use, particularly amyl nitrite (poppers), is the primary cause of AIDS, rather than HIV.
Out of the Closet is doing its best to remain faithful to medically accurate resources.
"You know, spreading awareness about what's going on... Regular TV doesn't always cover everything," said Dylan, who added that they are preparing for an influx of new donations. (Visitors can continue to donate, as well as schedule times to drop off at https://outofthecloset.org/donate/
Lifelong Thrift is at 313 Broadway E. and is open noon to 7 p.m. daily (5 p.m on Sunday and Monday). Out of the Closet is at 1016 E. Pike St. and is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (6 p.m. on Sunday).
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