Aaron Carter Is Still Figuring Out His Bisexuality And That's OK

I was confused, I’ll admit, when Aaron Carter came out as bisexual and then followed it up by saying he was only interested in dating women .

How were we supposed to interpret his comments, and more importantly, how was he interpreting his own bisexuality? Was he attracted to all genders, but simply more attracted to women? Or, perhaps, he was experiencing an early bout of self-loathing that’s all too common in the coming out experience — a self-loathing I keep promising my therapist each week, through tears, I am long past.

I had a lot of questions, and then this week, I had the opportunity to interview Aaron for my podcast, LGBTQ&A . I found that Aaron, like all of us, is still trying to figure out who he is, though unlike us, he’s doing it publicly, having been famous since he was in the single digits. We talked about this, beginning first with how his sexuality influences his songwriting.

Jeffrey Masters: Are we ever going to see you writing songs about guys or other genders?

Aaron Carter: You’ll see.

JM: Oh, really?

AC: Mm-hmm.

JM: Is it in your new album?

AC: It’s something that I’ve thought about for the album after this one. It’s already been thought through. I definitely embrace my bisexuality. It’s still new to me because I just started talking about it, really.

JM: I wondered if you thought songs about bisexuality wouldn’t appeal to a mainstream audience.

Aaron Carter: I think you just definitely implanted an idea in my head. The album that I’m doing right now is called “Love.” It’s based on two girls that I was with. Who knows what the future has to bring. Whether it’s a relationship with a guy, I don’t have a problem with that. Then I’ll write a whole album about it.

JM: For the new album, it sounds like we can expect a lot of relationship songs.

AC: They’re all relationship songs. My favorite track is “Almost There.” It was the last song that I wrote about my first ex-girlfriend. See, there’s two ex-girlfriends in this album.

I’m recording a song tonight called “Hungry For Love.” I wrote this song in rehab and I was hungry for love… I think that’s what it was. Some of the things that were happening with me, being 115 pounds, going to rehab, then coming out 160. It was baffling to me. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t know. I look forward to what the future has to bring when it comes to a good relationship.

JM: At one point, you said you weren’t interested in dating guys. Do you still feel that way?

AC: No, no. I don’t feel like that.

JM: What changed?

AC: My crazy mind. No, I don’t know. I’m just still confused about it.

JM: Confused about bisexuality?

AC: Bisexuality. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m single right now, so I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to come my way.

JM: My mind has a hard time comprehending that you started out so young. You were singing with a band, dancing with backup dancers, doing big stages. Did you realize how massive of a deal that was at that time?

AC: No. Absolutely not.

JM: When did you realize?

AC: What it was to me at that age was Beanie Babies from my fans. I was performing on stages, being scared, and not ever looking at any fans, and then… I don’t know. I got comfortable with it. It was a crazy time.

JM: As a former child star, do you have to now prove to the industry that you’re a “legitimate artist,” for lack of better words.

AC: Of course. That’s why I produce my music. That’s why I write and have a team with me. There’s something very, very important to prove here and I want to just be known as being one of the best musicians and composers and artists. It’s going to take time, but that’s my goal. I’m now just working on staying positive and continue working.

This interview has been edited and condensed. Click here for the full interview with Aaron on the podcast, LGBTQ&A.