Sir Ivan aka Peaceman

Anti-Bullying

Bullying - Why Should You Care?

Bullying is not just “kids being kids.” It is extremely serious and dangerous and leads to thousands of deaths every year among young people. It also leads to problems with emotional and physical health and damages our educational system.

That’s why Sir Ivan created the song “Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye” – to raise awareness of the problem and to help fight bullying.

If you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know may have been affected by bullying at some point. Read on for ways to help make a difference at your school and community.

Statistics on Bullying

Impact on Suicide:

Bullying is a universal problem that can often be linked to youth suicide.

Tragically, there are more than 440,000 teens who talk about or attempt suicide in the U.S. every year.

LGBT teenagers are 4-5 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.

Impact on Education:

Every month, 282,000 students are attacked in school.

160,000 U.S. students stay home from school every day due to bullying.

One out of every ten students who drop out of school does so because of bullying.

What Is Sir Ivan Doing to Help?

Sir Ivan firmly believes that bullying must be stopped and that we must celebrate differences rather than punish them.

Sir Ivan has been a strong opponent of bullying for years, and through his philanthropic Peaceman Foundation, has been making major donations to anti-bullying organizations such as The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth.

Sir Ivan has donated $100,000 to 10 non-profit organizations with strong anti-bullying programs. He is also giving away the net proceeds from the song “Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye” to these organizations.

Anti-Bullying Initiatives and Organizations

There are several excellent organizations and initiatives that provide resources and support for students, parents, and teachers. A list of many of these is below, with contact information:

1. The Trevor Project http://www.thetrevorproject.org

The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people aged 13-24.

The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386

2. The It Gets Better Project http://www.itgetsbetter.org

Its mission is to communicate to LGBT youth that it gets better and to create and inspire changes needed to make it better for them.

3. Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) http://www.glsen.org

GLSEN is the leading national education organization that ensures safe schools for all students. GLSEN works to ensure that LGBT students can learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.

4. Born This Way Foundation http://www.bornthiswayfoundation.org

Led by Lady Gaga and her mother, the Born This Way Foundation fosters a more accepting society where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. It is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world.

5. Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center http://www.pacer.org/bullying

Pacer provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and students' safety and well-being.

6. Parents and Friends of Gays & Lesbians (PFLAG) http://www.pflag.org

PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization, uniting LGBT people with parents, families, friends, and allies. PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone is respected, valued, and affirmed, inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

7. Love is Louder http://www.loveislouder.com

Love is Louder is a project of The Jed Foundation to support teenagers and college students feeling mistreated, hopeless, or alone. Communities nationwide use Love is Louder programs, events, and clubs to strengthen emotional health by building resiliency, creating connectedness, promoting acceptance, discouraging harmful behaviors like bullying, and equipping advocates to support their peers. As part of his work to prevent bullying, Sir Ivan’s donation will support Love is Louder clubs and events across the country that make campuses more inclusive and support students who are struggling emotionally, both those who feel mistreated and those participating in bullying behaviors.

8. Campus Pride http://www.campuspride.org

Campus Pride represents the only national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students. The organization is a volunteer-driven network “for” and “by” student leaders. The primary objective of Campus Pride is to develop necessary resources, programs and services to support LGBT and ally students on college campuses across the United States.

9. Stomp Out Bullying http://www.stompoutbullying.org

STOMP Out Bullying™ is the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization for kids and teens in the U.S. STOMP Out Bullying™ is recognized as the most influential anti-bullying organization in America and beyond.

10. Anti-Defamation League http://www.adl.org

ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute is a leader in developing anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying training, curriculum, and resources for youth, educators, youth providers, and adult family members.

ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute provides the tools and resources to assist people in taking action to prevent and respond to bullying and cyberbullying.

How Can You Help?

There are many ways you can help stop bullying.

When you see it happening, raise it to teachers, parents or community leaders to help stop it. Provide emotional support to those who are bullied.

Also, you can support anti-bullying programs by donating your time or money to these initiatives or organizations in your community.

You can also support these initiatives by downloading the song “Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye” because Sir Ivan is donating 100% of the net proceeds from the song (and the remixes) to important anti-bullying programs. Click here to download it on iTunes.

Here is a list of anti-bullying initiatives and organizations you can support by purchasing the song:

Anti-Bullying Initiatives or Organizations

The Trevor Project

The It Gets Better Project

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educational Network (GLSEN)

Born This Way Foundation

Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center

Campus Pride

Stomp Out Bullying

Anti-Defamation League

Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)

Love is Louder

“Kiss All the Bullies Goodbye” by Sir Ivan features Taylor Dayne and was produced by Paul Oakenfold. The remixes were made by Tracy Young, Wayne G, Tony Moran, Ralphi Rosario, Sin Morera and Tony Shimkin, Ali Dee, Ford, Aitor Wilzig, and Bobby Puma.

Additional anti-bullying resources: