Evening Buzz: From Chastity to Chaz
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.
Your Health, Your Money: Join the Live Chat
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
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
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Video may show missing family walking into Mexico
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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.”
Video: Chaz Bono reflects on his gender transition journey
Program note: To see Anderson's entire interview with Chaz Bono, tune in tonight at 10pm ET.
Beat 360° 3/11/10
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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Chaz Bono's transition
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.
Michael Moore: Replace Rahm with me
Program note: Hear from Michael Moore tonight on AC360°. Anderson will ask him about his take on health care reform, the insurance industry, the cost of medical care, and his offer to serve as chief of staff. Tune in tonight at 10pm ET.
Michael Moore
Dear President Obama,
I understand you may be looking to replace Rahm Emanuel as your chief of staff.
I would like to humbly offer myself, yours truly, as his replacement.
I will come to D.C. and clean up the mess that's been created around you. I will work for $1 a year. I will help the Dems on Capitol Hill find their spines and I will teach them how to nonviolently beat the Republicans to a pulp.
And I will help you get done what the American people sent you there to do. I don't need much, just a cot in the White House basement will do.
Now, don't get too giddy with excitement over my offer, because you and I are going to be up at 5 in the morning, 7 days a week and I am going to get you pumped up for battle every single day. Each morning you and I will do 100 jumping jacks and you will repeat after me:
"THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ELECTED ME, NOT THE REPUBLICANS, TO RUN THE COUNTRY! I AM IN CHARGE! I WILL ORDER ALL OBSTRUCTIONISTS OUTTA MY WAY! IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M DOING THEY CAN THROW MY ASS OUT IN 2012. IN THE MEANTIME, I CALL THE SHOTS ON THEIR BEHALF! NOW, CONGRESS, DROP AND GIVE ME 50!!"
Then we will put on our jogging sweats and run up to Capitol Hill. We will take names, kick butts, and then take some more names. If we have to give a few noogies or half-nelson's, then so be it. In our pockets we will have a piece of paper to show the pansy Dems just how much they won by in 2008 - and the poll results that show the majority of Americans oppose the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and want the bankers punished. Like drill sergeants, we will get right up in their faces and ask them, "WHAT PART OF THE PUBLIC MANDATE DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, SOLDIER?!! DROP AND GIVE ME 50!"
I know this is the job Rahm Emanuel was supposed to be doing.
Video: Family saved by 7-year-old boy
Randi Kaye | BIO
AC360° Correspondent
Journey for Change: Day four in Ghana
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.
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.
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