Oral history interview with Justin Marsh
Title
Oral history interview with Justin Marsh
Description
Justin Marsh recalls how the early days of COVID-19 pandemic affected their job as director of development at the Pride Center of Vermont. Like most places of employment, the Pride Center shut its doors and was forced to work and connect with their population remotely. Marsh notes some especially impactful aspects of this pivot in 2020, including moving the center's annual Pride celebration to a virtual format and needing to complete some of their biggest fundraising efforts of the year over email. Marsh also describes how the Pride Center expanded beyond their Burlington-focused staff and agenda in response to the pandemic.
Additionally, Marsh speaks about their performances as the drag artist, Emoji Nightmare. They continued to perform throughout the pandemic, first in virtual formats and later through the in-person options which vaccines and mitigation efforts allowed. Although they talk about some problems with internet connectivity while working from home, they also reflect more generally on how their less scheduled life in the early days of the pandemic allowed them to improve their living space and expand their gardens.
At the time of this interview, Justin Marsh of Cambridge, Vermont, was the political outreach director at Vermont Conservation Voters. Prior to June 2022, they served as director of development at the Pride Center of Vermont for four years. They are also a drag artist who performs under the name Emoji Nightmare.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Additionally, Marsh speaks about their performances as the drag artist, Emoji Nightmare. They continued to perform throughout the pandemic, first in virtual formats and later through the in-person options which vaccines and mitigation efforts allowed. Although they talk about some problems with internet connectivity while working from home, they also reflect more generally on how their less scheduled life in the early days of the pandemic allowed them to improve their living space and expand their gardens.
At the time of this interview, Justin Marsh of Cambridge, Vermont, was the political outreach director at Vermont Conservation Voters. Prior to June 2022, they served as director of development at the Pride Center of Vermont for four years. They are also a drag artist who performs under the name Emoji Nightmare.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Date
2023-09-21
Subject
Source
Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project
Identifier
AudioFileCOVID-041
Format
MP3
WAV
Type
Audio file
Rights
Permission to publish material from the Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project may be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.
Interviewer
Wingerson, Amber
Interviewee
Marsh, Justin
Duration
57 min., 42 sec.
Repository
Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4215
Collection
Citation
“Oral history interview with Justin Marsh,” Digital Vermont: A Project of the Vermont Historical Society, accessed April 19, 2025, https://digitalvermont.org/vtcovid/AudioFileCOVID-041.