NYPD Officer, Famous for Twerking at Gay Pride Parade, Dies of Cancer

A New York police officer whose dancing exploits at the city’s Gay Pride parade went viral in 2015 has died of cancer. Officer Michael Hance shot to fame after a video showing him dancing at the parade was watched millions of times.

The video, posted by Paige Ponzeka in June 2015, shows Hance dancing with one of the participants in the parade. Ponzeka, who was marching with Big Apple Softball League, said one of the others in the group was having some fun dancing near the officer, who was standing along the parade route. The officer ignored him at first, but eventually he started dancing.

The officer gets a sticker and a peck on the cheek after his dance.

Cities across the United States celebrated Gay Pride Day on June 28, 2015, with rallies and parades. It was just two days after the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

It also marked the anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots in 1969 in New York City, which marked the modern-day gay pride movement. The Stonewall Inn was recently declared a historic landmark and played host to a same-sex marriage performed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday. Credit: YouTube/Paige Ponzeka via Storyful