OLYMPIA— Washington's closely watched same-sex marriage case was argued before the state Supreme Court in March of 2005, and the long, long wait for a decision continues.

Some court-watchers are now speculating that this hot potato could stay under wraps until after the November election.
Gay marriage and gay rights were a front-burner issue in the Legislature this year, and the buzz over the Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" seemed to galvanize attention.

The 10th Annual Clark College Women's Conference is set for Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Gaiser Hall at Clark College in Vancouver.

This year's event, "From Little Princess to Desperate Housewife:Confronting Images of Women," features a keynote address by comedian and activist Debbie Wooten.

Mercy Corps will celebrate 25 years of helping the world's most vulnerable populations with the opening of the photo exhibit, "Women Before the Lens: Transformation and Hope from Around the World," presented by Art on Alberta, on Saturday, May 20.

Plaintiff Juanita Wynne, center, with her attorneys is the only African American server at McCormick & Schmick's Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley. She is suing the company for racial discrimination.

McCormick& Schmick's Seafood Restaurants Inc., a group of 61 upscale restaurants across the nation, has been charged with violating federal and state laws against racediscriminationin employment in a class action lawsuit filed May 11 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

Claiming that the restaurant chain fails to hire qualified African Americans and instead favors White job applicants and employees in an effort to present a "White image" to the public, African American job applicants and current employees filed Wynne et al. v. McCormick & Schmick'sSeafood Restaurants, Inc..

When a church member has an addiction, where can he or she turn?

That question will be the focus of a gathering to discuss building team ministries for church members with addictions.
Scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, in Westminster Presbyterian Church, the talk is entitled, "Consultation on Building Addiction Team Ministries in Congregations and Faith Communities."

Local author and genealogist Stephen Hanks will highlight "Jump-Start Your African American History," a genealogy workshop scheduled for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the North Portland Library, 512 N. Killingsworth St.

Participants from past festivals

Now in its 35th year, the Northwest Folklife Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. over Memorial Day weekend, May 26 through 29, at the Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St.

Admission is free, but a $5-per-day donation is suggested.

During the festival's four-day run, the diverse communities of the Northwest will share their cultural traditions. Visitors will sing and dance, taste cuisine from around the world and learn from each other.

The Northwest Folklife Festival is the largest folk, ethnic and traditional arts event in North America and features more than 6,000 musicians, dancers and visual artists.

Portland area residents will put their best feet forward during a walk that will help support education and advocacy about mental illness.

The 2.8-mile walk, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will be on Sunday, May 21. Check-in time is noon at the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade Festival Plaza, and the walk begins at 1 p.m. The plaza area is at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge.

An armed man spoke briefly to Archbishop Desmond Tutu outside a Seattle cathedral last week and handed him three bullets, police confirmed. No one was injured.

The retired Anglican archbishop from South Africa had just left St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral May 11 after a night service when the man approached him, Officer Deanna Nollette said Friday.

Sue Price, left, Tricia Tillman, Marlene Holliday, Yolanda Armstrong, Tori Tipton and Kimmy Figueroa — all members of the African American Outdoors Association — enjoy a recent hike in Tryon Creek State Park. The AAOA encourages African Americans to increase their fitness, health and wellness through outdoor activities.