Riding the wave of supporters speaking out on transgender issues, pop-dance recording artist SIR IVAN aka “Peaceman” announced that he is kicking off his very own campaign to raise awareness. Sir Ivan’s The Peaceman Foundation has been a longtime advocate for LGBT issues, and has helped in the efforts to end hate crimes, bullying and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
October 14, 2015 will be the official launch of his philanthropic campaign. On this date SIR IVAN will host a haute screening of his new documentary called “SIR IVAN: I Am Peaceman,” which chronicles his musical and humanitarian career. The film is directed by four-time Emmy award-winner Jim Brown, who has also done documentaries on Billy Joel, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Released by POP TWIST through MVD Visual Entertainment Inc., the leading pop culture sales company, with event programming featuring Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Bono, Amy Winehouse and many more, this documentary is available on Amazon,Vimeo On Demand and Google Play.
The screening will take place at the Angelika Theater at 18 W. Houston Street in Manhattan on Wednesday, October 14, from 7-8pm. Following the screening, SIR IVAN will host an after-party at “Peaceman’s Penthouse Pad” in SoHo from 8-11pm. During this haute happening SIR IVAN himself will present a generous $10,000 check to Abbe Land, Executive Director of The Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention in the LGBT community, and which has special programs for the transgender community. Over the past years The Peaceman Foundation has donated over $200,000 to The Trevor Project and different anti-bullying organizations.
SIR IVAN has translated his philanthropic efforts into his music. In 2015 SIR IVAN released an anti-bullying single with pop star Taylor Dayne called “Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye,” produced by Paul Oakenfold. The music video, directed by BET and MTV award-winner Erik White, which depicted the story of a transgendered teen being bullied.
SIR IVAN explains, “As the son of a Holocaust survivor, I’ve always been an activist for people who have been persecuted. I was brought up with a heightened awareness of the harm that being perceived as different can cause. Transgender people often lack a support system and are more likely to be fired or bullied, to experience difficulties and have a much higher suicide rate. I, for one, will not stand for it and I hope people will unite with me against this injustice. When the president of my own record label, Peaceman Music, Laura Ford (formerly Lawrence Ford), informed me that 41 percent of all transgendered people attempt suicide, I decided they needed my help the most.”
