Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight you'll hear from Chaz Bono, formally known as Chastity. As a little girl she appeared on stage with her parents, Sonny and Cher. About a year ago she began her life as a man.
"This was my journey and this, you know, I had to go through. I'm now so much happier, more confident. I don't know. My life just feels right now," Chaz told Anderson.
We're also tracking the high cost of health insurance. We're looking at why premiums have risen as high as 56 percent. President Obama is demanding answers as he tries to get health care reform passed on Capitol Hill. As Randi Kaye discovered, the numbers are sobering. Health insurance premiums have soared 131 percent in the last ten years costing the average family about $13,000 more over a decade. We're keeping them honest. We'll also talk with filmmaker Michael Moore, whose movie "Sicko" looked at the for-profit health care industry. As you might imagine, he's fired up.
We'll also bring you our latest report on our continuing series "Homicide in Hollenbeck." You'll meet a gang member who wants out. See how he's getting help to say goodbye to the bloodshed.
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Tonight on 360°, the skyrocketing health insurance premiums. Hikes as high as 56 percent. Why are health insurance companies doing this? We're keeping them honest. We'll also talk with filmmaker Michael Moore, whose movie "Sicko" highlighted the for-profit health care industry. Plus, from Chastity to Chaz. Anderson talks with Cher's son about his new gender.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
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[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/11/missing.fam.surveillance.jpg caption="A frame of surveillance tape that may show a family missing for more than a month from California."]
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
Surveillance tape may possibly show a California family missing for more than a month casually crossing into Mexico, authorities said.
The images were recorded on February 8 at the San Ysidro border checkpoint, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department said. The tape, which runs 1:28, was posted on the department’s YouTube channel.
Police indicate a man and woman appear from the lower left of the screen at approximately 30 seconds into the video. “Each is holding the hand of a child. The woman is wearing a light colored jacket with dark trim,” police said.
Sgt. Dave Martinez of the department’s homicide detail told CNN the four individuals could be Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph, 3, who have not been seen or heard from since vanishing from their San Diego area home on February 4.
According to Sgt. Martinez, the hats worn by the children in the security tape “are apparently their trademark.”
Program note: To see Anderson's entire interview with Chaz Bono, tune in tonight at 10pm ET.
Ready for today's Beat 360°? Everyday we post a picture you provide the caption and our staff will join in too. Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite! Here is the 'Beat 360°' pic:
A man and his dog practice their routine on day one of the annual Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 11, 2010 in Birmingham, England. During this year's four-day competition nearly 28,000 dogs and their owners will vie for a variety of accolades, ultimately seeking the coveted 'Best in Show.'
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions! Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
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[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/11/cher.chastity.jpg caption="Actress and singer Cher comforts her daughter Chastity Bono during a rally for 'National Coming Out Day' in 1996. Chastity started the transition to Chaz about 1 year ago." width=292 height=320]
AC360°
As the daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono, Chaz Bono has been in the public spotlight for his entire life. Being well-known made the decision to transition from a female to a male even more difficult. Chastity had to accept that becoming Chaz would not be a private matter. Throughout the gender reassignment process, Chaz has had the support of his famous mother and his girlfriend. Now, he is speaking out as a member of the transgender community. Tune in tonight at 10pm ET to hear Chaz talk about his transition, regrets, experiences, and how being the child of celebrities shaped his identity.
This glossary from GLAAD has helpful information and terminology about the transgender community:
Transgender
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may include but is not limited to: transsexuals, cross-dressers, and other gender-variant people. Transgender people may identify as female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF). Use the descriptive term (transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, FTM or MTF) preferred by the individual. Transgender people may or may not choose to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.
Transsexual (also Transexual)
An older term which originated in the medical and psychological communities. Many transgender people prefer the term "transgender" to "transsexual." Some transsexual people still prefer to use the term to describe themselves. However, unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term, and many transgender people do not identify as transsexual. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers.
Transition
Altering one's birth sex is not a one-step procedure; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition includes some or all of the following cultural, legal and medical adjustments: telling one's family, friends, and/or co-workers; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) some form of surgical alteration.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)
Refers to surgical alteration, and is only one small part of transition (see Transition above). Preferred term to "sex change operation." Not all transgender people choose to or can afford to have SRS.
Randi Kaye | BIO
AC360° Correspondent
Editor's Note: Students from Brooklyn, N.Y. are traveling to Ghana as Global Service Ambassadors as part of a trans-Atlantic youth service and advocacy summit, bringing together African-American youth and Ghanaian child labor trafficking survivors. The project is called Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service and is in partnership with the Touch A Life Foundation. The Ambassadors will advocate for the eradication of child slavery when they return and they will visit Capitol Hill and the United Nations as part of their efforts. Read their blogs from the trip below.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/10/child.slave.and.owner2.jpg caption="A child slave with his owner.
Photo credit: Benjamin Goode"]
Benjamin Goode, Age 13
Journey For Change
Today was day 4 and it was better than all of my other days in Ghana because we got to travel over Lake Volta and free two child slaves.
When we first arrived at the Lake, I was surprised because I thought the lake would be much smaller than it was. Just to see the people at the shore of the lake was sad because kids had no clothes and the adults were very poor. They were trying to sell things as we waited to leave on the boat.
After riding for a while, we came up to a boat that had three child slaves – one boy who was about 5 and two teenagers. I thought it would be easy to free that little child but it was not. It made me mad to see the slave master smiling and laughing about the situation because it really wasn’t funny. I thought he was taken us for a joke. To see the little boy clamp on to his slave master made me realize that the master has him brainwashed which also made me mad. Also, he tried to get away with owning him by hiding the little boy under the bow of the boat. And when the little boy finally came up, he lied and said it was his son. But you can tell it was not his son, because he was in rags.
When we had to leave him, I was angry because the little boy had the right to freedom, an education, proper nutrition and I did not want to leave him.