United States: First same-sex couple on cover of Essence
NBC News reported on February 25 that actress Niecy Nash and singer Jessica Betts are the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of the popular Black women's lifestyle magazine Essence. Nash and Betts are featured in an issue on Black women in Hollywood, and talk about their romance and the response to their 2020 wedding announcement.

Nash told Essence of her first romantic night with Betts. "I was nervous at dinner because I felt something. I could not wrap my head around it. I was trying to see if I was off, 'cause I wanted to keep the night going. And the night turned into the rest of my life."

Of the incredulous public response to their wedding announcement, Nash said, "I never knew why where you lay your head is such a big deal to other people. I was like, 'People care?'" Betts and Nash say they are still very much in love, and hope to share that love so the world can see it.

Florida man tries to "cut the gay out" of own brother
David Martinez, a Miami resident, was arrested late February when he threatened to attack his own brother with a large kitchen knife. Police were called to the scene after a "violent dispute" between the two men. Martinez reportedly followed his brother around the property "while sharpening a large kitchen knife, telling him he was going to 'cut the gay' out of him." While Martinez initially resisted arrest, he was eventually subdued by officers and taken into custody.