Shepherdstown, West Virginia is preparing for an extravagant Pride parade on June 1.
What makes this one so special and important? It’s a Shepherdstown’s first.
GLAAD Media Institute Alum – or a person whose completed a GLAAD Media Institute training – Joan “Joanie” Moossy spearheaded the organization of the Pride parade, which would take on a theme of “Historic Firsts.” Her aim is to offer a proactive narrative about living as LGBTQ in Appalachia, while inextricably carrying on the LGBTQ history of the approximately 2,000 person-town.
On the spot, the town council voted unanimously on Moossy’s Pride parade proposal. The parade will be about 30 minutes, and blend with co-organized events charted by the community of Shepherdstown.
“I wanted to continue the work that I’d done in the LGBTQ community. And so that’s when I thought of the parade,” Moossy told GLAAD in an interview. She thought “that it could inspire other people in the community to do things. And that’s exactly what’s happened.”
Before Shepherdstown, Moossy was a well-known actor, art director, and artist in New York City during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. She was well known in the nightlife scene. Moossy was known to produce what she called “the prom every night” with the art department of the famous night club, the Limelight. Never forgetting her decades in New York, Moossy moved into her parents former Shepherdstown home full-time during the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Indubitably, Moossy took her artist’s organizing chops with her.
After learning about adults and families with a desire to learn about trans issues, language, and terminology, Moossy invited the GLAAD Media Institute – GLAAD’s training, consulting and research leg – to Shepherdstown in 2018 to host a transgender 101 learning session at Shepherdstown University. In preparation for the event, Moossy found that in 2017 trans youth had the highest population (1.04%) percentage in West Virginia compared to any other state. While this is no longer the case, the news astounded many in town, including Scott Turner Schofield, a consultant for GLAAD at the time.
With the news in mind, Schofield leapt to West Virginia to deliver the workshop, and through his facilitation, prompted participants into action. Seven years later, some GLAAD Media Institute alumni went on to write and publish books, others moved on to different states, and many, including Schofield, are working together on the “Historic Firsts” Pride parade.
“This event was a catalyst, it brought together these activists who were working on their own and trying to figure out where they fit, and how they could do their work,” Schofield told GLAAD. “And from that, the things that have happened since, I think, really speak to what the power in a small town can be.”
Schofield will be in town again for the historic Pride parade.
The two met in 2010 when Schofield was in New York City working on a play about the downtown performance art scene.
“She is an elder activist. She has been doing this work for such a long time, she knows how to do it,” Schofield said, revering the activist/artist’s legacy, calling Moossy his “mentor in life as an artist.”
“I’m just so excited for people to recognize the depth of queer history in Shepherdstown,” Schofield continued.
Schofield himself is one of many “historic firsts.” He was the first openly transgender actor to play a major role on daytime television and then, the first to receive an Emmy-nomination. But Schofield often puts “historic firsts” into air quotes. He states that in the history (of all people who ever existed) there is no way to know the many firsts that slunk in the shadows of history, while others dazzled in its spotlight.
Much like the 1972 mayor of Shepherdstown, Silas F. Starry, an out, gay man.
Moossy found Starry while organizing the parade. “I saw that because I do know a little bit of LGBTQ history, and I know that Harvey Milk is 1977 and Elaine Noble in Massachusetts is 1974 so I just was like, ‘Oh my god, we have the earliest openly gay elected official in the United States,’” Moossy recalled.
Starry’s sexual orientation was known to all, but historians may question if Starry claimed to be gay, according to Moossy’s research. She even spoke to his nephew, Ronald, now an elder himself.
Ronald “speaks with such complete reverence about his uncle, like he was the greatest person in the world, the greatest uncle in the world,” Moossy said of her conversation.
Starry was elected more than once, and maintained mayorship for eight years.
“He was a very popular mayor. He was evidently larger than life,” Moossy said.
James Gatz is the current mayor of Shepherdstown. He is also openly-gay, making him one of the few gay mayors known to the town’s history. He was present when Moossy introduced the Pride parade proposal to the town council floor.
“To me, this Pride Parade represents everything that makes Shepherdstown special—community, compassion, and courage. Pride gives people the space to express themselves fully and freely. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally seeking to learn, support, or simply celebrate your neighbors, family and friends, this weekend is for you,” Gatz told GLAAD in an email.
Gatz goes on to commend Moossy and the town’s organizing efforts. He says that he is incredibly humbled to be a part of the historic-firsts legacy of both Starry and Pride 2025.
Rosemary Ketchum, City Councilwoman of Wheeling West Virginia, will join Gatz, Schofield and Moossy in continuing the legacy of “Historic Firsts.” as West Virginia’s first openly trans elected official, holding her seat from 2020 until 2024.
When told about the recent history of Pride’s new birthday in Shepherdstown, Ketchum was joyful. “It reminds me how beautiful our community is, and the power of building a strong and deep network of queer leaders who can share and provide insight and also mentorship.”
She herself is connected to the parade through Moossy and Stephen Skinner, the state’s first openly gay lawmaker.
Despite months of harrowing attacks on LGBTQ Americans, Ketchum says it’s time to continue organizing. For “the queer community, particularly in rural Appalachia, there are still plenty of firsts. A lot of communities take for granted the progress that we have made,” Ketchum Told GLAAD in an interview. “I think [this] story really reminds me of the power of community and networks, and building strong relationships, and really giving it to Joanie for being a total badass.”
For more on what to expect June 1, the day of Shepherdstown’s first-ever Pride Parade read more here.
More about the GLAAD Media Institute:
The GLAAD Media Institute provides training, consultation, and actionable research to develop an army of social justice ambassadors for all marginalized communities to champion acceptance and amplify media impact. Using the best practices, tools, and techniques we’ve perfected over the past 30 years, the GLAAD Media Institute turns education into armor for today’s culture war—transforming individuals into compelling storytellers, media-savvy navigators, and mighty ambassadors whose voices break through the noise and incite real change. Activate with the GLAAD Media Institute now at glaad.org/institute
