Shepherdstown, West Virginia – On Sunday, June 1st, hundreds of people, both Shepherd University Students and local community members, lined Shepherdstown’s German Street as they prepared to kick off the 2025 Pride season with the first annual Shepherdstown Pride Parade.
The parade, founded and largely organized by Joan Moossey, followed the theme of “Historic Firsts”, with the parade celebrating local queer icons such as Silas Starry, the first openly gay mayor of Shepherdstown, and Stephen Skinner, the first openly gay person elected to the West Virginia state legislature.
“We need to show our strength as a community,” says Shepherd University student, Katherine Aronhalt, “We’re so strong here. There are so many people that showed up, that are supporting each other, that are complimenting each other’s outfits, and there’s so much community and love here,”
The parade, which ran through German Street, started at 6:00 pm and ended approximately. 20 minutes later. Though it was a short parade, it was a beautiful one. The celebration was opened by Grand Marshall Rosemary Ketchum, the first openly transgender person elected official in West Virginia. Ketchum was followed by a group of people holding a banner that read “1st Annual Shepherdstown Gay Pride Parade.”
Participants included local businesses, including Alma Bea, Bee City, and The Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea, and local churches, such as the Shepherdstown Presbyterian and St. Peter’s Lutheran Parish. The parade ended with the crowd joining in on the route and eventually dispersing at the intersection between German Street and Princess Street.
There was no hide nor hair of a homophobic protester in sight. The parade was a pure expression of love and celebration of identity.
“I think it’s important now, especially with everything that’s going on in the world, to go out, and support, and be a part of that community,” said Solace Gildowan, Shepherd University student and active member of the campus Gender Sexuality Alliance.
For many Shepherd students, this was their first Pride parade. “This is my first time being truly at a pride parade… I feel like I get to be a part of something great, something that’s hopefully going to continue for a long time,” says Brenna Nowlan, another Shepherd University student.
Reporter Carter Combs