"Justin Bieber IS actually gay."

This is Justin Bieber.
And for some reason, I can't stand the kid.
It's nothing personal -
Heck, I don't even know why -
I just don't like him.
(for those of you who don't know, he's this little music star whom,
if I was like 20 years younger, I would probably be in love with - but I'm not.
I'm 30 years old and I can't stand him.)

So Tanion comes home from my friend Heather's house tonight and he's singing "Baby, Baby, Baby, OH" and I recognize it as an off-key version of a song by Justin Bieber. And I look at him strange. He says "What? It's just the 'Baby' song from Justin Bieber."

And me, being the person who is ANTI-BIEBER and hasn't listened to that song EVER by choice (and only partially once that I can think of on accident while at the skating rink), look at him and ask "Where did you hear that song? And how do you know who sings it?!"

He informs me that today at school was a talent show and he heard it TWICE. And now it's stuck in his head and he actually kind of likes it and he wants me to buy him the Kid Bop CD with that song on it. ("Remember, Mom? It's on that TV commercial and it goes, 'Baby, Baby, Baby, OH!'")

I tell him NO on the CD because I don't like Justin Bieber... And he asks why. I have no answer to that question, other than I just don't. Then he asks, "Is it because he's gay?" So I am FLAT-LINED at that. I have NO idea on how to respond or where he heard that or came up with that or whatnot... I kind of stumble over my words and he says "Cuz you know, Mom, Justin Bieber IS actually gay."

So, we all get in the car and I ask Tanion who told him Justin Bieber was gay. He says "Oh, Oliver said that he is gay" and I ask if Oliver (his little friend from school) said that HE is gay or that Justin Bieber is gay. He clarifies that Oliver said that Justin Bieber is gay and that Oliver would know because Oliver is smart and 'he knows that "Baby, Baby, Baby, OH" song'.

So I ask, "Do you know what gay means, buddy?" and he sits for a second and sort of ho-hums about a few things and gives up and says "No. Not really, I guess. What is gay anyway, Mom?"

So, my explanation was "Well, if someone is gay and they are a boy, it means that they like other boys and want to marry a boy. And if someone is gay and they are a girl, it means they like other girls and want to marry a girl." He sits there for a second and proclaims, "Well, Mom, I'm not gay. I want to marry Shandy and she's a girl." (haha!)

Then he asks why a boy would want to marry another boy... And I said 'some just do and that's okay because people should be happy and we should be nice to everyone'. Then I threw in that it's not nice to call people gay cuz it could make them sad or mad. He seemed happy with that little talk and ending and starting singing that darned "BABY" song again! (Dang you, Justin Bieber and your catchy little song!)

Is it weird that I'm having this discussion with my 7-year-old? I don't think I'm ready to talk about birds and bees and sexuality! YIKES! But I do hope he is tolerant and kind to others. I hope that he doesn't get into the labeling and the finger pointing. I hope he turns out to be a good boy who is nice to everyone. Regardless if they are straight, gay or Justin Bieber fans.

(And here's the darn video to that darn song - just in case you wanted to get it stuck in your head - even though I'm not going to listen to it or watch it... and you'll probably have to double click on the video to be able to see the whole thing..