NBC's reality talent show The Voice
includes four openly gay contestants. Tyler Robinson, Vicci
Martinez, Nakia and Beverly McClellan are among the 32 contestants
vying to win NBC's challenger to Fox's 10-year-old hit American
Idol.
“Growing up Mormon was difficult for
someone like me,” Robinson, 20, said on the show's premiere. “I'm
gay. Doesn't define me, but that's what I am.”
“My dad and I don't have the best
relationship. He hasn't been supportive of my music,” he added.
“Also my father does not know that I'm gay. I haven't actually
told him yet. I guess he knows now.”
Robinson was picked by judge Blake
Shelton to be mentored on the program. Shelton
drew the ire of gay media watchdog GLAAD after he tweeted an anti-gay
message assumed to be directed at the two male gay contestants.
McClellan was picked by Christina
Aguilera, and Nakia, 36, who sang Cee Lo's Forget You, was
picked by Cee Loo for his vocal team.
Finally, twenty-six-year-old Martinez
from Seattle landed a spot on Cee Lo's team after she wowed the
judges with her rendition of Adele's We Could Have Had It All.