Misfits, Rascals and In-betweeners

Listen to Kevin read this post.

“What time is it on the clock of the world, and what are you doing to make a difference for good?

Grace Lee Boggs often started her conversations with this question, opening people to the fact that we live in a continuum of time and space, and that our actions can influence that continuum.

Many people are saying that this particular time on the clock of the world is unprecedented.

But is it? Or is history just repeating itself?

And if it is, what can we do shape a new path forward that makes a difference for the good of all?

I used these questions to frame my recent conversation with Wil Fisher, an extraordinary visionary — on a recent episode of his Queerly Beloved podcast: Elemental Balancing with Kevin.

Photo: Wil Fisher

We traveled back one hundred years ago — to 1925 — to see if the times we are facing now are truly unprecedented.

In 1925 -

• The world was just emerging from a devastating pandemic.
• Authoritarianism was on the rise, causing political and economic turmoil.
• There was a huge divide between the haves and the have-nots, with oligarchs gaining more control in politics, the media, and the markets.
• Technological advances — radio, telephone, air travel, vaccines, mass-produced cars and homes made life easier and more accessible for many.
• Mass migrations of people — across borders and oceans, and from the country-life to city-life, impacted cultural and social norms.
• The empowerment of disenfranchised people (e.g. voting rights for women, citizenship for indigenous people, queer enclaves in New York, Paris, Berlin, and San Francisco), brought more people out of the shadows.
• Meanwhile, violence against those very people was on the rise with exclusion policies, police roundups/deportations, and the development of ghettos.
• The United States had just elected an inept, scandal-ridden President.

Sound familiar?

What followed was the Great Depression, another World War and more division and derision. Given that sobering context, our conversation turned to the second part of the question –

What can we do to make a difference — so we do not repeat history — but make a difference for the good of all?

Through my conversation with Wil , we determined the following wisdom to guide our way –

It’s up to the Misfits, Rascals and In-betweeners to shape a new path forward.

Clearly the establishment is committed to going back to 1925, setting us on a course to repeat history.

“These folks seem to be riding this wave in a way that they can’t get off,” Wil said. ”For us queer folks, we are able to see a another path simply because we see the world through a different lens.”

“Sometimes it’s just about looking at a situation and tilting everything 27 degrees that shifts our perspectives and opens up new possibilities,” I continued. “That is our contribution and our responsibility.”

A hundred years ago, the misfits, rascals and in-betweeners were removed, locked up and shut down. But now, there are millions of us, who are unapologetic and unafraid to speak out. We (and if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you see yourself as a misfit, rascal and in-betweener) need to organize, strategize and use every crayon in our boxes to disrupt the current paradigms.

Where we see bleak structures, let’s add rainbows and clouds.

Let’s overcome meanness and exclusion with kindness and community.

Let’s do what we do best — stand in those uncomfortable, in-between spaces and link our arms together instead of crossing them.

Nature provides the medicine we need.

Wil and I also discussed how the power of nature guides us toward healthy and sustainable outcomes. We talked about my book, and how The Five Elements — Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal — which I have applied as an organizing tool through my tenure in HIV work and in my consulting practice — has brought about balance and well-being to thousands of people.

I presented Wil’s own Five Elements profile, and advised on how this wisdom can guide his daily choices, from setting boundaries to creating environments where he can thrive.

“As sentient beings, we can always turn to the elements of nature for balance,” Wil said. “When I’m feeling unbalanced, simply walking outside and feeling the warmth of the sun, or a gust of wind is enough for me to reset my equilibrium. It just takes a few seconds and I’m ready to face the world again.”

When you are feeling stressed and out of sorts, consider seeking a moment in nature — whether it’s a deep breath of air, a sip of water or a moment in the sun — to bring you back to balance.

Wil and I closed our conversation as we started — with the wisdom of Grace Lee Boggs, who often said that while life is filled with struggles, what keeps us going is experiencing joy in the struggle — each and every day. “We misfits, rascals and in-betweeners are pretty good at tapping into joy,” said Wil. “That’s a superpower we need to remember and bring forth into these times.”

If you find yourself puzzled and paralyzed by the state of the world, take a note from Queerly Beloved, tilt your head 27 degrees and tap into your rascally side. Wil and I will be there, as we all find a new way forward.

Listen to Wil and Kevin’s full conversation at Queerly Beloved Podcast.