>> WELCOME YOU TO DONNYBROOK "NEXT UP."

WE'RE HONORED TO WELCOME KEN HALLER.

HE'S A PEDIATRICIAN.

WELCOME.

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY GRIM WEEK IN THE NEWS.

YOUNG PERSON, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MENTION THE NAME OF THE SUSPECT, CREATED CHAOS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE GENDER IDENTITY OF THE SHOOTER.

YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY CAN'T YOU FROM A MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW?

>> GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHY PEOPLE DO THESE THINGS.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR REASONS FOR THESE THINGS.

THOSE ASPECTS OF THE PERSONALITY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THAT LED THAT PERSON TO DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THE THING IS, THAT IS REALLY IRRELEVANT TO THIS DISCUSSION.

WHAT IS RELEVANT IS THAT THIS IS A PERSON WHO HAD ACCESS TO GUNS TO REALLY POWERFUL GUNS WHO NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS.

THERE SHOULD BE CONTROLS IN PLACE TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE SORTS OF IDEAS, WHO HAVE THESE PLANS TO GET HOLD OF A WEAPON LIKE THAT THAT CAN CAUSE HAVOC AND KILL CHILDREN.

>> I COME TO KNOW YOU OVER THE YEARS FOR YOUR GENEROUS TIME ON KTRS AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] TO KEEP THIS ON A SERIOUS NOTE.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE SCARCE AT BEST IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI AS AN EXAMPLE.

THEY ARE ESPECIALLY SCARCE FOR KIDS.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR STATE AND OUR CULTURE DOING A BETTER JOB OF HAVING ACCESS, AFFORDABLE THAT'S PAID BY INSURANCE FOR KIDS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT GETS DOWN TO HEALTHCARE FINANCING.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN MANY VENUES.

THE HEALTHCARE FINANCING IN THIS COUNTRY IS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

IT GIVES BIGGEST REWARDS TO PEOPLE WHO CUT THINGS AND PUT THINGS IN PEOPLE.

THE COGNITIVE STUFF.

JUST SITTING WITH THE PERSON AND HELPING THEM TO FIND WHO THEY ARE AND MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT PAID FOR.

FOR MYSELF, AS A PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICIAN, I DON'T DO PROCEDURES.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOW MUCH MONEY PEOPLE MAKE, I'M DOWN HERE.

THE THING IS THAT, WHEN WE GET TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THEY DO NOT DO BETTER.

SOMETIMES THEY DO WORSE.

MENTAL HEALTHCARE IS OFTEN NOT REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE.

HEALTHCARE INSURANCE OFTEN DOES NOT PAY FOR IT.

PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.

I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IN THE PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE I'M IN AT CARDINAL GLENNON, WE SPENT TIME ON TRYING TO FIND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR KIDS.

NOW OUR KID, ESPECIALLY THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ARE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN THEY'VE BEEN FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT.

GETTING THEM THE CARE THEY NEED IS JUST REALLY DAUNTING.

>> DO WE NEED TO DO LAWS?

IS THERE A CONSTRUCTIVELY, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO AFFECTS PARENTS AND FAMILIES NOW AND THEIR CHILDREN.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING ON AS THE NEXT STEP?

>> IS THIS COMING FROM WITHIN HEALTHCARE OR IS THIS LEGISLATIVE?

>> THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE THING.

THE WAY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS SET UP, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, WHEN I WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL BACK IN THE '70s, A LOT OF MY MEDICAL SCHOOL TUITION WAS COVERED BY CAPITATION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COVERED MEDICAL SCHOOL TO OCERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO KEEP THE TUITION AT A REASONABLE LEVEL.

I ENDED UP WORKING IN A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR COUPLE OF YEARS.

BASICALLY, I GOT MY MEDICAL EDUCATION PRETTY MUCH FOR FREE.

WHEN I WENT INTO PRACTICE, I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY AM I GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE $300,000 A YEAR TO PAY OFF LOANS.

THE STUDENTS AT SLU MEDICAL SCHOOL AT WASH-U, MIZZOU, EVERY MEDICAL SCHOOL, THEY'LL COME OUT WITH UPWARDS OF $250,000 IN DEBT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A MORTGAGE WITHOUT A HOUSE.

THEY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY OFF THAT DEBT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE KIND OF LOW INTEREST RATES THAT EVEN THE FEW LOANS I HAD DID BACK THEN.

MEDICAL STUDENTS HAVE TO MAKE PART OF THEIR CALCULATION WHAT IS GOING TO PAY THE MOST MONEY.

WHEN IT COMES TO COGNITIVE THINGS LIKE INTERNAL MEDICINE, PEDIATRICS AND PSYCHIATRY.

THOSE ARE THE LOWEST PAID SPECIALTIES.

PEOPLE SELF-SELECT AWAY.

THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE TO FILL THOSE POSTS.

THAT'S TRUE EVEN FOR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU MAKE IS YUST NOT THAT GREAT AND MOST PEOPLE IN THOSE PROFESSIONS WILL SEE PEOPLE ON A SLIDING SCALE.

THEY END UP EATING LOT OF THAT.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS.

MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH.

JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, JUST LIKE A STREP THROAT, JUST LIKE CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CANCER, JUST LIKE GETTING APPENDIX OUT.

MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH.

>> YOU'RE A LEADER IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

IN TERMS OF THE KIDS YOU SEE, THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES, WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF THE EFFORT TO DEMONIZE TRANS PEOPLE?

WHICH IS UNDENIABLE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INSIDIOUS, FRANKLY HORRIBLE THINGS I'VE SEEN LEGISLATION AND LEGISLATORS TRY TO DO TO A POPULATION OF PEOPLE IN THE NEARLY 50 YEARS SINCE I ENTERED MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN LEGISLATORS SAY TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE, YOU CANNOT GET MEDICAL CARE THAT MAKE YOU WHOLE.

THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

I NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

I HAVE LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE TRANS.

THEY ARE SCARED TO DEATH.

THESE ARE EVEN ADULTS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING.

THEY ARE SCARED THAT MIGHT NOT GET PAID FOR GOING FORWARD.

WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS WHO COME IN OUR PRACTICE, PEOPLE ARE THINKING THEY MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF STATE.

FAMILIES MAY HAVE TO UPROOT THEMSELVES TO MOVE ELSEWHERE SO THEY CAN GET CARE THAT GENERALLY IS NOT EVEN COVERED BY INSURANCE, BUT THEY CAN'T EVEN GET THE CARE EVEN IF THEY PAY OUT OF POCKET.

FOR GOVERNMENT TO BE DOING THIS FOR PUBLIC POLICY TO SAY THAT OUR GOVERNMENT SAYS, YOU ARE NOT A WORTHWHILE PERSON.

WHO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS IS NOT VALID AS A HUMAN BEING.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE THINGS WE CAN DO TO A CHILD.

>> COULD YOU SHED SOME LIGHT.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION OVER THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WHISTLEBLOWER.

THIS WAS NOT SOMEBODY IT WAS OUTLIER, ANTI-TRANS.

THIS WAS SOMEBODY FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, FROM EVERYTHING YOU GLEANED, VERY THOUGHTFUL PERSON.

I THINK THAT HAS CONFUSED THE ISSUE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THIS PERSON.

I DO KNOW THE PEOPLE AT WASH-U AT THE GENDER CENTER.

THEY ARE THE MOST ETHICAL AND METICULOUS AND THOUGHTFUL AND SMART AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE I KNOW.

I KNOW THEY ARE METICULOUS ABOUT FOLLOWING THE POLICIES OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE WORLD PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRANSGENDER HEALTH.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN HAVE TO MEET BEFORE THEY GO FROM ONE LEVEL OF CARE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CARE.

THESE ARE INCREDIBLY STRINGENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PERSON SAW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT NO ONE I KNOW AT THE CENTER, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE AT THE CENTER DOING THE THINGS THIS PERSON SAID.

WHAT I HEARD, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AROUND THIS, AROUND HOW WHEN A CHILD PRESENTS AND SAYS, THAT MY GENDER IS THIS, RATHER THAN THIS, IT'S NOT LIKE, HERE'S A PRESCRIPTION AND WE DOING SURGERY NEXT WEEK.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THERE HAS TO BE STRINGENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.

THERE'S NOT A THOUGHT GIVING PUBERTY BLOCKERS.

THE SEXUAL MATURITY RATING, THERE ARE FIVE STAGES.

ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, YOU HAVE TO REACH STAGE 2 OF THAT BEFORE YOU CAN THINK ABOUT GIVING PUBERTY BLOCKERS.

IN TERMS OF THEN GOING TO HORMONES THAT WOULD MOVE THE BODY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TARGET GENDER, NO ONE WOULD THINK ABOUT DOING THAT BEFORE AGE 16.

I KNOW THOSE ARE THE STANDARDS THEY HAVE AT WASH-U.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PERSON IS COMING FROM.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WHAT ARE THE RISK IF A CHILD IS TOLD IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR YOU HERE IN MISSOURI.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS TO NOT ONLY THE CHILD'S FAMILY BUT THE GREATER SOCIETY?

>> WHAT IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU THAT YOU HAVE CANCER AND YOU CAN'T GET CHEMOTHERAPY.

WE WILL NOT TAKE OUT THAT TUMOR.

WE WILL NOT GIVE YOU THE TREATMENT YOU NEED AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT VALID.

YOU DIE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT A TRANSGENDER CHILD HEARS WHEN THEY ARE TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.

FOR A CHILD IS GOING THROUGH THESE THINGS AND STARTING TO SEE THEIR BODY CHANGE AND SAYING THIS IS NOT WHO I AM, TO BE TOLD THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT MIGHT ALLOW ME TO FIRST KEEP THIS FROM GOING FURTHER AND THEN EVENTUALLY, HELP ME TO GO IN THE DIRECTION.

I FEEL I TRULY AM IS DEVASTATING.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STUDIES OF KIDS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER AND ABOUT 85% OF KIDS TRANSGENDER ARE HAVING MAJOR ANXIETY NOW BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE HEARING HAPPENING AT STATE LEGISLATURES.

THEY ARE AFRAID PEOPLE ARE COMING FOR ME.

IT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

IT CAN LEAD TO SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE.

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN'T EVEN ESTIMATE HOW MANY PREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

>> TALK ABOUT THE PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER KIDS.

THE NATIONAL POLITICAL TALKING POINTS, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

IT'S A NATIONAL, VERY PROFITABLY POLITICAL ISSUE.

IN THE CULTURE WAR.

ALWAYS CREATES A SCENARIO WHERE IT'S SOME 10 OR 12-YEAR-OLD KID WALKING IN ASKING FOR DRAMATIC MEDICAL PROCEDURE.

AS IF THE PARENTS DON'T EXIST.

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ARE PARENTS FEELING?

DO THEY TEND TO -- I'M SURE THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE -- TALK ABOUT THE PARENT'S ROLE.

>> I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SCENARIO THAT WE HEAR LOT OF FORUMS.

10-YEAR-OLD SAYS I'M REALLY A GIRL.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THE HORMONES AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET SURGERY AND IT'S LIKE THAT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.

I KNOW LOT OF PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

THIS IS A MAJOR JOURNEY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD, ONE OF THE FIRST THING YOU ASK BESIDE, IS MY CHILD HEALTHY AND WHAT'S MY CHILD GENDER.

THAT IS A REALLY CONCRETE THING THAT PEOPLE SEE AS THEIR IMAGE OF WHO THEIR CHILD IS.

WHEN THEIR CHILD COMES TO THEM AND SAYS, I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ME.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND WRENCHING THING FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING -- EVERY PARENT I TALK TO.

IT TAKES A PARENT TO THINK ABOUT IT AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WILL TELL THE REST OF THE FAMILY AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN GOING FORWARD.

WHEN THEY GO ON THIS JOURNEY AND FIND SUPPORT, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAN FINALLY START SAYING, OKAY, LET'S SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE GO.

WE TAKE THIS ONE STEP AT A TIME.

THERE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A STRONG LOCAL CHAPTER CALLED TRANS-PARENT.

I TALKED TO PARENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A LIFE-DEFINING THING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE DO THOUGHTLESSLY OR FRIVOLOUSLY.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS THING.

IT'S ALSO AN INTENSELY PRIVATE THING.

FOR GOVERNMENT TO SAY, COME IN AND SAY, YOU CANNOT DO THIS.

THE PEOPLE WHO SPENT THEIR LIVES LEARNING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, I FIND AN ATROCITY.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT POINT ABOUT PRIVACY.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU SEE PARENTS WHO SEEM TO BE EXPLOITING THEIR CHILDREN AT A VERY VULNERABLE TIME.

THIS IS OUR JOURNEY.

IS THAT PART OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROCESS?

THIS IS A VERY PRIVATE JOURNEY.

>> AS YOU SAID, EVERY FAMILY DEALS WITH THIS DIFFERENTLY.

PART OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT GO INTO AN EVALUATION OF A CHILD AND A FAMILY WHERE A CHILD IS SAYING THAT I'M TRANSGENDER, SO TO MAKE THERE'S NOT OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE UNRESOLVED OR UNMET THAT COULD BE HAVING AN IMPACT.

THAT COULD BE EITHER -- THIS MIGHT BE NOT NECESSARILY BEING TRANSGENDER BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THEY FEEL THEY CAN EXPRESS IT.

IT MIGHT CAUSE THEM TO SUPPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT WHO THEY ARE.

THIS PROCESS IS REALLY LONG.

I WOULD SAY FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS -- I THINK THAT ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO IS TO BE AS HONEST WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILY AS THEY CAN BE.

ALSO REALIZE THAT CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER THEY ARE ARE AT A VERY VULNERABLE AGE.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM IN A PLACE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE GOING OUT OF THE WORLD AND BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, HAVING TO DEAL WITH THINGS THAT FRANKLY NO ONE IS PREPARED FOR.

>> THE TRANS ISSUE IS ONE -- IT'S PART OF A CULTURE WAR.

IT'S A NATIONAL CULTURE WAR.

WE KNOW THAT.

I ALWAYS SAY, I DON'T ACCUSED LEGISLATORS IN MISSOURI ORIGINAL THOUGHT.

MOST OBVIOUS ONE WAS I WON'T MENTION HER NAME, STATE LEGISLATURE, OPENLY TOOK THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL IN FLORIDA AND BASICALLY CUT AND PASTE IT.

TO THE POINT WHERE SHE SAID, SHE WAS CRITIQUING IT AND POINTING OUT AS SHE INTRODUCED THE BILL AT A COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SHE SAID, I REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS ENFORCEMENT.

IT WAS A BILL -- IT WAS HER BILL.

SHE WAS ADMITTING SHE DIDN'T WRITE IT.

AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF US HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT DON'T SAY GAY IN SCHOOL AND ALSO, AS IT PERTAINS TO MENTAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> I AM VERY OLD.

I'M ALMOST 70.

NO ONE SAID GAY WHEN IT'S GROWING UP.

PEOPLE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT SEX EITHER.

PEOPLE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF.

IF THERE WAS ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT, I CAN THINK ABOUT IT MYSELF WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT -- I CAN GO INTO A LATENCY PERIOD.

WHEN THIS SORT OF THING HAPPENS AND MEMBER LGBTQ COMMUNITY, TO FEEL THAT I HAVE A TARGET ON MY BACK FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT'S A HUGE THING.

WHEN I THINK THERE MAY BE PUBLIC POLICY SAYING I AND PEOPLE LIKE ME AREN'T IN SOME WAY OUTLAWED, IS INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL.

THE THING IS, SOMETIMES WE SAY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T MATTER.

BUT IT DOES.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SAYS -- WHEN THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS SOMETHING.

I MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT.

I KNOW THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IF I DON'T FOLLOW.

IF THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO AS A PHYSICIAN OR GAY MAN, WHO I CAN AND CANNOT TAKE CARE OF.

I REALIZED THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IF I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT LAW.

THAT'S NEVER A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

MY CONSCIOUS HAS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING EARLIER ON THE DONNYBROOK PORTION OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, WE SAID, WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT.

WORDS MATTER.

IF YOU ARE A YOUNG LGBTQ MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, YOU WILL BE SUSPICIOUS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR WHO SURROUND YOU.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S SORT OF THING.

DEMONIZING.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE -- THERE'S A McCARTHYEST FEELING.

ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF AN LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

IT'S STIGMATIZING IT.

IT'S BEEN REALLY -- I WILL SAY, HAVING SAID THAT, BECAUSE I AM OUT.

I'VE BEEN OUT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK HAS IMMUNIZED ME.

PEOPLE CAN'T USE THIS SECRET AGAINST ME BECAUSE IT'S ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S ALL OVER PUBLIC TELEVISION.

I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN, PLEASE COME OUT.

HARVEY MILK SAID, COMING OUT IS THE MOST POLITICAL THING YOU CAN DO.

TELLING THE WORLD, THIS IS WHO I AM AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT IS HUGE.

THEN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ME.

IF YOU WILL SAY THIS TO MY FACE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK ME IN EYE.

I WILL LOOK BACK AT YOU.

>> WE HAVE NOTICED IN TALK RADIO, A SEA CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO ACCEPTANCE.

EVEN ON THE PART OF MANY PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER, BECAUSE, THEY KNOW AS TIME PASSES, THEY KNOW THEY KNOW PEOPLE.

THEY LOVE PEOPLE WHO COME OUT AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE SAME THING IN THE STATE WITH MARIJUANA.

SOMEBODY THAT I LOVED HAD CHEMOTHERAPY.

THINGS ARE CHANGING.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY, I AM.

WHAT I WANT IS GOOD POLICY.

I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT ANY POLITICIAN THAT EXSPOUSES GOOD POLICY.

MY POINT IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS, WHEN POLICY IS OUT THERE, PEOPLE KNOW PEOPLE, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO BE OUT.

I WILL SAY THAT.

I REALLY HAVEN'T -- I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER HAD A PATIENT SAY I'M NOT GOING TO HIM BECAUSE I'M GAY.

THEY MIGHT HAVE BUT THEY NEVER COME BACK.

THEY KNOW ME AS A DOCTOR.

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE WHOLE OF WHO I AM AS A PHYSICIAN AS A HEALER, THEY MIGHT GO, WOW, MAY BE I NEED TO RETHINK THAT.

I THINK THAT IS A VERY POWERFUL THING.

THAT'S WHAT I SAY TO YOUR VIEWERS.

IT IS POSSIBLE AND YOU'RE NOT UNITE OUT, THERE'S LOT OF US OUT HERE.

IT'S A GREAT THING TO DO.

>> ONE OF THE MOST EVERYONE -- EMPATHETIC PEOPLE I KNOW.

YOU AS A PEDIATRICIAN ARE CONNECTED BOTH TO THE PATIENTS AND THE PARENTS.

TALK ABOUT THE PARENTS WHO OF GAY LGBTQ KIDS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR ORIENTATION IS, WHAT'S THEIR JOURNEY LIKE?

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GET INTO POLITICS.

WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR THEM?

I WOULD THINK SOME OF THE PARENTS OF YOUR PATIENTS WHETHER THEY MIGHT BE REPUBLICAN OR CONSERVATIVES, HOW DOES THIS LAND ON THEM?

>> I THINK THAT FOR THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE LGBTQ, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A MAJOR CHANGE IN HE ENVISION THEIR CHILD TO BE.

IT'S PRETTY BIG.

AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S THIS DEFAULT THAT THEY WILL GET MARRIED A PERSON OPPOSITE GENDER AND HAVE KIDS AND I'LL BE A GRANDPARENT AND WE'LL HAVE FUN.

AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THE THING IS THAT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I WILL -- IF PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT.

I WOULD SAY WHAT REALLY CHANGED ABOUT YOUR CHILD.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR CHILD.

I LOVE THIS AND THAT.

THAT HASN'T CHANGED.

THAT'S STILL THERE.

THIS IS STILL YOUR CHILD.

THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

YOU HAVE THIS AMAZING GIFT.

YOU HAVE THIS CHILD, YOU HAVE THIS HUMAN BEING.

THIS CHILD IS ENTRUSTED TO YOU FOR AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN EITHER MAKE THIS CHILD A REALLY WONDERFUL EMPATHETIC PERSON BY SHOWING THAT TO THEM.

OR YOU CAN SHOW THEM WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FEEL SHUNNED AND REJECTED AND THAT WILL TURN THEM INTO SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

>> IN THE MINUTE OR SO THAT WE HAVE LEFT, TO THE VIEWERS, IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY TRYING TO CONNECT, THE GENDER IDENTITY OF THE SHOOTER IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, JUST BE RATIONAL.

ASK YOURSELF OF ALL OF THE OTHER MASS SHOOTINGS IN THESE TRAGEDIES, WHEN HAS THAT EVER COME UP?

IT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> THESE KIDS AND THESE ADULTS ARE DEAD.

THEY WERE KILLED BY SOMEONE WHO HAD A TERRIBLE ISSUES AND GOT A HOLD OF A VERY POWERFUL WEAPON.

AS A SOCIETY, WE DID NOT ADDRESS THE TERRIBLE ISSUES AND THE WEAPON.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> DR. KEN HALLER.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

HE IS PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PEDIATRICIAN WITH SSM HEALTH CARDINAL GLENNON HOSPITAL.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY.

GOOD NIGHT.

* >> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUPPORTERS OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.