Just noticed that my post from March about the passing of Officer Michael Hance -- who became a instant LGBT favorite after a clip of him dancing with a marcher in the NYC Pride Parade went viral in 2015 -- was my blog's most viewed to date. So the timing couldn't be more perfect to report that Officer Hance will be honored this week for his outreach to the LGBT community.
It was the twerk seen round the world — a 12-second video clip of a straight NYPD cop dancing with a Pride Parade reveler that quickly became a shining example of the department’s ever-improving relationship with the city’s LGBT community. This Wednesday, that video will take center stage as the NYPD’s Gay Officers Action League posthumously honors the cop in that clip who recently died of a 9/11 related cancer.
Police Officer Michael Hance’s family will be in attendance when GOAL acknowledges the fallen cop with their Ally Award for his impromptu dance as he stood a post during the city’s 2015 Pride Parade. The award will be given out at the 2017 NYPD Pride Celebration at 1 Police Plaza.
“People look at what he did and say, ‘OK it’s a [short] clip’ — but that video was viewed nearly 10 million times,” said GOAL president Brian Downey. “We’re so appreciative of the attention that was drawn by this one act of kindness.”
Aaron Santis was marching with the Big Apple Softball League, an LGBT sports group, when he started dancing in front of Hance. The Queens cop quickly joined in and began grooving to the Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop’ Til You Get Enough.” He then turned and started twerking while Santis was grinding behind him.
The video has been viewed 8.5 million times and never fails to make me smile. The 44-year-old officer died of 9/11 related cancer in March, leaving behind behind daughters Kaitlyn, 12, and Jenna, 10.
Free tickets and more information available HERE.
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