🔗 Share this article

Trans filmmaker Sam Feder's newest film "Heightened Scrutiny" presents a compelling dual viewpoint – both an emotional profile of a prominent trans advocate and a pointed examination of media reporting surrounding trans existence.

Judicial Battle at the Supreme Court

This documentary documents ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio as he gears up for court proceedings in the important Supreme Court case US v Skirmetti. This legal battle occurred in December 2024, with the court ultimately deciding in support of the state's case, essentially permitting bans on treatment for transgender youth to stay in place across multiple US territories.

We produced Heightened Scrutiny in only 16 months, explained Feder during an interview. Meanwhile, my earlier film Disclosure took me five years, so this was quite rushed. Our purpose was to raise conversation so people would understand more about the case.

Personal Story Amid Political Battle

Although Feder provides a extensive analysis of how prominent publications have disseminated anti-trans talking points, the film's primary contribution may be its captivating depiction of Strangio. Typically a measured lawyer in public settings, Strangio shows his humanity throughout the documentary.

That was a significant challenge, to open up parts of my life to a camera lens that I had made efforts to keep confidential, explained Strangio. Feder explained he wanted younger people to know that we struggled, to see what was done in service of these battles for our fundamental rights.

Varied Voices in the Movement

To strengthen Strangio's narrative, Feder includes various trans advocates, including respected individuals from journalism and the arts. This film also presents viewpoints from cisgender advocates who critique how established publications have participated to negative portrayals of transgender individuals.

The experience of transgender young people key to the legal case is represented through a impressive 12-year-old activist named Mila. Audiences observe her advocating for her fellow students at a educational meeting, with subsequent moments showing her demonstrating for trans rights outside the Supreme Court.

Personal Scenes Beyond the Legal Battle

The documentary also contains touching moments where Feder transcends the never-ending political struggle, including sequences of Strangio vacationing in Italy and getting a body art featuring lines from civil rights leader Pauli Murray's poem "Vision."

This body art moment is one of my favorites in the movie, shared Strangio. Being tattooed is almost like a reflective experience for me, to be fully present in my body and to view it as a vehicle for things that are meaningful to me.

Body Autonomy and Portrayal

Feder's focus to carefully showing Strangio adding to his body art emphasizes that this film is fundamentally about transgender physical selves – not only those of young people who face prohibition of their right to live authentically in their own bodies, but also the bodies of the numerous participants who are featured in the documentary.

I produce films with a message, and part of that is picking people who are outstanding and articulate enough to sustain the camera, shared Feder. When people ask me what they should dress for an interview, my reply is anything that makes you feel confident. That is crucial to me – as trans people, we struggle so much with our appearance.

Impact and Hope

A key factor that makes Feder's films excel is his evident skill for making his transgender interviewees feel respected, recognized and admired. This approach fosters authentic connection between Feder and Strangio, allowing the filmmaker to accomplish his aim of presenting Strangio as a whole human being and providing a record for coming generations of how resiliently he and others have campaigned for trans rights.

I hope not people to find themselves in a situation of incessant hopelessness because of what the law is not giving us, explained Strangio. I want to be in a method of using the law to minimize harm, but not to transform it into some type of conduit for our liberatory potential. The government is not going to be the reflection through which we view ourselves. We are that mirror, and it's extremely vital that we persist having that dialogue together with dialogues about pushing against these regulations and procedures.

This important documentary is presently obtainable for streaming during Trans Visibility Week and will receive a more extensive release at a later date.