Comments on: Michael Scott Goucher and the Deadly Web of Homophobia

By: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is History: We Must Not Forget Its Cost « Unfinished Lives

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:35:24 +0000

[...] Private First Class Michael Scott Goucher, a veteran of the Iraq War, was murdered near his home in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on February 4, 2009 by an assailant who stabbed him at least twenty times. Known locally as “Mike on a Bike” by neighbors and friends, Goucher was an assistant organist for a congregation of the United Church of Christ, and Captain of the neighborhood Crime Watch. He also was a selectively closeted gay man, hiding his sexual orientation from his community. Goucher survived deployment in Iraq, only to meet death at the hands of homophobes back home. [...]

By: Tara G.

Tara G. — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:23:11 +0000

Mike was loved. and by many. i had the pleasure of knowing him in his last years of his life. he will always have a place in my heart and of many others. Mike will never be forgetten. i still send my prayers to him because his death is still a nightmare to me. he was one of my best friends. may he rest in peace.

By: Repeal and Remembrance: Gay Military Martyrs and the End of DADT « Unfinished Lives

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 06:57:20 +0000

[...] then his body was set afire in a guard shack in the vain attempt to destroy evidence of the murder. Army veteran Michael Scott Goucher was lured into a fatal ambush by local youths near his home in Pennsylvania. These four are [...]

By: William Searfoss

William Searfoss — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:32:15 +0000

I am Mikes Uncle, we raised Mike through his teen years and he considered us his family. He was NOT a closet gay man. He told us when he was 14 he was gay. He kept if from his US Army supervisors.

Now you have the real facts from his uncle. If you need to contact me please do so.

By: Anti-LGBT Hate Crimes the Highest Since 1999 « Unfinished Lives

Anti-LGBT Hate Crimes the Highest Since 1999 « Unfinished Lives — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:35:45 +0000

[...] the extreme savagery of these attacks as in the case of 45 stab wounds in U.S. Army veteran Michael Scott Goucher’s murder in East Stroudsburg, PA, and Duanna Johnson’s shooting death in Memphis, TN. The [...]

By: Fiona Lefevre

Fiona Lefevre — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:33:15 +0000

Mike, I have not known you personally.
But I truly feel for you and your loved ones.
May you find peace in HIS embrace.

By: unfinishedlives

unfinishedlives — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:24:39 +0000

Thank you for your comment, Jessica. We are sorry for your loss. Information for this story was gathered from several news sources in the local area, as well as the on-air commentary of your friend’s aunt and uncle. We hope justice will be done when the alleged murderers are brought to trial.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:59:42 +0000

I grew up with Mike, and although his murder has hit us all very hard you have your facts very truly wrong. Mike was very open about his sexual orientation since High school. I in fact attended the Same High school and was a part of our GSA(gay, straight alliance) group. WE DO NOT live in some tiny homophobic community, filled with rednecks as you would suggest. Mike only if ever hid the fact that he was gay when he was serving his county and only to his superior officers. You are painting a very incorrect picture of my beloved and now lost friend. Please serve his memory well and get your facts straight, and not change and/or corrupt them to serve your own personal agenda.

-Jessica P.