About Me

Andrea Hackl (she/they) is a writer and independent consultant. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from American University. In her roles as a researcher and advocate, she has primarily worked on LGBTQ+ rights and other social justice issues. Andrea has worked with leading academic institutions, think tanks, and LGBTQ+ rights organizations like GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). In addition to policy papers and blog posts, Andrea co-authored several research articles published in leading academic journals including the Journal of Homosexuality, Sexuality & Culture, and Information, Communication & Society. This work has been cited more than 400 times.

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More recently, Andrea has collaborated with GLAAD on the organization’s annual Social Media Safety Index to hold leading social media companies accountable for their respect for LGBTQ+ users’ rights. Together with authors and celebrities such as Glennon Doyle, Elliot Page, Laverne Cox, and Dan Levy, GLAAD is now also using this research to urge tech companies to better protect LGBTQ+ users from hate and harassment online. Andrea has spoken at various national and international conferences, including the Lesbians who Tech summit in New York and re:publica in Berlin. Originally from Austria, Andrea has lived in different parts of the U.S. and now resides with her puppy and two cats in Oakland, California.