Gay Officers Organization To Posthumously Honor Officer Who Danced In Pride Parade

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — The NYPD's gay police officers organization will posthumously honor Michael Hance, the famous "hot cop" who danced in NYC's pride parade and 9/11 first responder who died of cancer earlier this year.

Hance, who died in Queens at age 44, became an instant internet celebrity in 2015 when video of him dancing during NYC's gay pride parade went viral:

The short clip was viewed millions of times and spawned admiring press coverage.

Hance served the NYPD for 17 years, including as a first responder after 2001 terrorist attacks, according to his obituary. He died of cancer in March, his family said. He is believed to have died of 9/11-related cancer. (Want more local news? Subscribe here for free breaking news alerts and updates from Patch.)

After Hance's death, the Gay Officers Action League of New York, also known as GOAL, launched a fundraiser for his two young daughters.

"Although not a member of GOAL NY or the LGBTQ Community, he certainly brought a smile to all of our faces when he danced," the organizers wrote on the fundraiser's page. "We as members and friends of GOAL are starting this fundraiser for his two daughters to be presented at the GOAL Pride Celebration on June 21, 2017."

Now, GOAL is honoring Hance with a posthumous "Ally Award." It will be presented to his family on Wednesday.

“People look at what he did and say, ‘OK it’s a (short) clip’ — but that video was viewed nearly 10 million times,” GOAL president Brian Downey told the New York Daily News.

Lead image via Shutterstock.