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Liam Hackett

{{Short description|British activist (born 1991)}}

{{about||the British firefighter|Liam Hackett (firefighter)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{{Infobox person

| pre-nominals = Doctor (Honoris Causa)

| name = Liam Hackett

| image = Liam Hackett MBE (cropped).png

| caption = A headshot of Dr Liam Hackett MBE in 2023

| post-nominals = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100%|MBE}}, FRSA

| image_size =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|01|19}}

| birth_place = St Helens, England, UK

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = British

| citizenship = United Kingdom

| alma_mater = University of Sussex

| occupation = Activist, Entrepreneur, Author

| agent = Northbank Talent

| known_for = Founder and CEO of Ditch the Label

| notable_works = 'FEARLESS' (2020)

| years_active = 2012–present

| honours = Order of the British Empire, Doctorate of the University (University of Sussex), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

| website = www.DitchtheLabel.org

}}

Liam Hackett {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 19 January 1991) is an activist, entrepreneur and author best known as the founder and CEO of the global youth charity Ditch the Label. Hackett is also known as one of the stars of Huffington Post's reality series, 'The New Activists'{{cite web|url=http://www.monkeykingdom.com/shows/new-activists|title=The New Activists {{!}} Monkey|website=www.monkeykingdom.com|access-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite web|title=New Activists: Watch The First Episode Of HuffPost UK's Daily Docu-Reality Series|url=http://projects.huffingtonpost.co.uk/new-activists/|access-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004000634/http://projects.huffingtonpost.co.uk/new-activists/|archive-date=4 October 2017|url-status=dead}} also appearing in MTV's Geordie OG's series one.{{cite web|url=https://www.limepictures.com/programmes/unscripted/geordie-ogs|title=Geordie OG's|website=Lime Pictures - Great stories, brilliantly told|access-date=15 February 2020}}

Hackett's debut book 'FEARLESS' was published by Scholastic in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://celebmix.com/how-liam-hackett-is-teaching-young-people-to-be-fearless/|title=How Liam Hackett is teaching young people to be Fearless|date=21 January 2020|website=CelebMix|access-date=15 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/scholastic-snaps-anti-bullying-charity-founders-non-fiction-debut-1092921|title=Scholastic snaps up anti-bullying charity founder's non-fiction debut|website=www.thebookseller.com|access-date=15 February 2020}}

Hackett is a regular contributor towards the global conversation surrounding technology and bullying and has advised the British, European and American Governments{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/05/children-england-digital-rights-social-media-terms-conditions-anne-longfield|title=Children in England sign over digital rights 'regularly and unknowingly'|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|date=5 January 2017|website=the Guardian|access-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/authors/liam-hackett|title=Liam Hackett|website=StopBullying.gov|access-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite journal|date=June 2018|title=Cyberbullying Among Young People|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571367/IPOL_STU(2016)571367_EN.pdf|journal=European Parliament}} and speaks often at the United Nations{{cite news|url=https://mcc.org/stories/commission-status-women-raising-our-voices|title=Commission on the Status of Women: Raising Our Voices|author=|date=10 May 2018|work=Mennonite Central Committee U.S.|access-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://unchronicle.un.org/article/cyberbullying-and-its-implications-human-rights|title=Cyberbullying and Its Implications for Human Rights {{!}} UN Chronicle|website=unchronicle.un.org|access-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://academicimpact.un.org/content/bullying-survey-2017-cyberbullying-impacts-young-peoples-real-lives|title=Bullying Survey 2017: Cyberbullying impacts young people's real lives|author=|date=9 August 2017|website=academicimpact.un.org|access-date=12 June 2018}} in addition to writing for the United Nations about technological progression and challenges.{{cite web|url=https://unchronicle.un.org/article/cyberbullying-and-its-implications-human-rights|title=Cyberbullying and Its Implications for Human Rights {{!}} UN Chronicle|website=unchronicle.un.org|access-date=15 February 2020}}

In 2017 he became the youngest person to receive an honorary degree from the University of Sussex.{{cite news|url=http://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/43429|title=University of Sussex awards degree to youngest ever honorary graduate|last=Tremlett|first=Rose|work=The University of Sussex|access-date=12 June 2018}}

Early life

Hackett grew up in St Helens, United Kingdom and experienced both physical and emotional bullying at school. In the last few years at his secondary school, he was physically assaulted outside of school, causing him to be hospitalised. Hackett has said in some interviews that the bullying he experienced was homophobic.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/liam-hackett/liam-hackett-new-activists_b_18038568.html|title=Together We Can Change Society And Beat Bullying Once And For All|date=25 September 2017|work=HuffPost UK|access-date=11 June 2018}}

Hackett first came out as bisexual and, in his college years, he came out as gay.{{cite web|url=https://www.rucomingout.com/liam-hackett.html|title=Liam Hackett|website=RUComingOut|access-date=11 June 2018}} After college Hackett moved to Brighton to study business and management at the University of Sussex.{{cite web|url=http://www.ditchthelabel.org/team-view/liam-hackett/ |title=Liam Hackett - Founder and CEO Profile |publisher=Ditch the Label |access-date=2 May 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.attitude.co.uk/viewers/viewcontent.aspx?contentid=2891&catid=comment&subcatid=general_news&longtitle=INTRODUCING%3A+DITCH+THE+LABEL |title=Introducing: Ditch The Label |publisher=attitude.co.uk |access-date=11 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114125548/http://www.attitude.co.uk/viewers/viewcontent.aspx?contentid=2891&catid=comment&subcatid=general_news&longtitle=INTRODUCING%3a+DITCH+THE+LABEL |archive-date=14 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=R u coming out features: Liam Hackett|url=http://www.rucomingout.com/liam-hackett.html|access-date=1 August 2014}}

Ditch the Label

{{Main| Ditch the Label}}

In 2006, Hackett launched a Myspace profile to host conversations that were taking place following his and others' experiences with bullying and physical assault, naming it ‘Ditch the Label’.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bibek-bhandari/liam-hackett-it-does-get-_b_1746459.html|title=Liam Hackett: "It Does Get Better"|last=Bhandari|first=Bibek|date=6 August 2012|website=Huffington Post|access-date=11 June 2018}} He received a grant from the St. Helens Chamber of Commerce to develop a dedicated Ditch the Label website to provide help and support to the victims of bullying. In 2012, he graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in business and management; he registered Ditch the Label as a legal entity and began to formally develop the organisation, funding it with his own money.{{cite web|url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/community/heroes/liam-hackett|title=Liam Hackett : Community heroes : ... : About us : University of Sussex|website=www.sussex.ac.uk|access-date=5 March 2020}}

In March 2014, Ditch the Label was officially recognised and registered as a charity in the UK. In 2016, Ditch the Label announced their international expansion into the United States as "Ditch the Label". Shortly after, Ditch the Label gained 501(c)(3) status in the US and then opened their office in Los Angeles.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/liam-hackett/ditch-the-label-new-activists_b_18192760.html|title=It Took Us Just Under Twelve Months, But We Finally Got Charity Status In The USA|date=5 October 2017|work=HuffPost UK|access-date=11 June 2018}} Hackett splits his time between both offices.

In 2023, Ditch the Label launched as 'Quítate las Etiquetas{{cite press release |author=|title=BRP AND YOUTH CHARITY DITCH THE LABEL LAUNCH SUPPORT PLATFORM TO RIDE OUT INTIMIDATION IN MEXICO |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brp-and-youth-charity-ditch-the-label-launch-support-platform-to-ride-out-intimidation-in-mexico-301843194.html |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=www.prnewswire.com }}' across Espańol communities.

Controversies

In 2019, Hackett publicly called out Brighton Pride for their alleged discrimination against pride-goers with a disability after his relatives were confined to a 'disability tent' with no view of the stage. A backlash ensued with thousands turning to Twitter, with many sharing their own experiences and some calling for a complete boycott.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49232897|title=Brighton Pride sorry over lack of disabled access to Kylie's show|author=|date=5 August 2019|work=BBC|access-date=5 August 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/08/04/disabled-people-access-tent-kylie-minogue-brighton-pride/|title=Disabled people confined to 'access tent' during Kylie Minogue Brighton Pride show|last=Duffy|first=Nick|date=5 August 2019|work=Pink News|access-date=5 August 2019}}

Accolades

  • Top 30 charity chief executive on social media{{cite web|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/top-30-charity-chief-executives-on-social-media-this-year-announced.html|title=Top 30 charity chief executives on social media in 2016 announced|website=www.civilsociety.co.uk|access-date=12 June 2018}}
  • Received a grant from St Helens Chamber of Commerce before he was 18, enabling him to launch the Ditch the Label website, this later evolved into the charity (2007){{cite web|url=https://www.ditchthelabel.org/history/|title=History|website=Ditch the Label|access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Shortlisted "Entrepreneur of the Year"{{cite web|url=https://www.gscene.com/news/nominations-open-for-the-national-diversity-awards-2013/|title=Gscene Gay/LGBT Magazine. News, Reviews & Listings for Gay/LGBT Brighton, UK, National Diversity Awards 2013 {{!}} Gscene Gay Magazine - What's on in Gay / LGBT Brighton|date=13 May 2013|access-date=5 March 2020}} and "Organisation of the Year" - National Diversity Awards (2013)
  • Fellow of Royal Society of Arts - FRSA (2014){{cite web|url=https://www.gscene.com/news/ditch-the-label-ceo-receives-honour/|title='Ditch the Label' CEO receives honour {{!}} Gscene Gay Magazine - What's on in Gay / LGBT Brighton|date=15 August 2014|access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Winner of "Best European Marketing Campaign 2014" in European Diversity Awards. (2014){{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
  • Winner of "Young Business Person of the Year" in the Sussex Business Awards for his work with Ditch the Label (2014){{cite web|url=https://www.sbawards.org.uk/?p=1032|title=WINNERS REVEALED AT 26th SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS – Sussex Business Awards|access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Winner of "European Campaigner of the Year" - Highly Commended in European Diversity Awards (2015){{cite web|url=http://www.boardroommum.com/the-2015-european-diversity-awards-shortlist-revealed/|title=The 2015 European Diversity Awards – Shortlist Revealed {{!}} BoardroomMum™|website=www.boardroommum.com|access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Notable Alumni - University of Sussex{{cite web|url=https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/people/spotlighton/liam_hackett|title=Liam Hackett : Spotlight on: alumni stories : ... : Development and Alumni Relations : University of Sussex|author=|website=www.sussex.ac.uk|access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Sits on the advisory board of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, of which Ditch the Label is a core member.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ph2vh|title=BBC Radio 5 live - 5 Live Breakfast, Your Call, Bullying, Rise in cyberbullying: Your experiences|website=BBC|date=8 January 2014 |access-date=5 March 2020}}
  • Sits on the task force of the 5Rights initiative headed by The Children's commissioner for England.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.ditchthelabel.org/ Ditch The Label]
  • [http://www.liamhackett.co.uk/ Liam Hackett official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackett, Liam}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex

Category:English LGBTQ rights activists

Category:English gay men

Category:People from St Helens, Merseyside

Category:Living people

Category:Anti-bullying activists