HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
Fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio battles at the Supreme Court for transgender access to gender-affirming healthcare, confronting not only the legal system but also a media landscape that distorts public perception.
About the Film
With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, Heightened Scrutiny is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice. HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY follows Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (United States v. Skrmetti). The film exposes the dangerous role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans legislation, uncovering how biased coverage drives hate, endangers lives, and threatens democracy itself. With insights from journalists like Jelani Cobb, Lydia Polgreen, and Gina Chua, and activists like Laverne Cox, the story dismantles anti-trans disinformation and highlights its devastating real-world impact. With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, Heightened Scrutiny is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.
Title
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
Release
2025
Runtime
89 minutes (1 hour 29 minutes)
Rating
Genre
Documentary
Directors
Sam Feder
Origin
United States
Language
English
United States
English
Reviews
CRITIC’S PICK! “WHAT HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY REMINDED ME IS THAT THE HOPE IS INSIDE OF US, AND THAT ONLY THROUGH COALITION BUILDING AND HELPING OTHERS WHO NEED IT THE MOST WILL I TRULY BE FULFILLED”
AS IF IN A STERN REBUKE TO THE “JUST ASKING QUESTIONS” CROWD, WHO REDUCE PEOPLE’S LIVES TO INTELLECTUAL EXERCISES, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY INTERWEAVES THOUGHT AND FEELING SIMULTANEOUSLY”
“A REMINDER THAT WE CAN RESIST’ : HARD HITTING DOCUMENTARY TAKES AIM AT ANTI TRANS RHETORIC.
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Creative Team
Creative Team
Director
Sam Feder
Cast
Chase Strangio
Cast
Jelani Cobb
Cast
Lydia Polgreen
Cast
Gina Chua
Cast
Laverne Cox
Cast
Tre'vell Anderson
Cast
Mina Brewer
Cast
Alberto Cairo
Cast
Jude Ellison S. Doyle
Cast
Ari Drennen
Cast
Morgan D. Givens
Cast
Julie Hollar
Cast
Sabrina Imbler
Cast
Kae Petrin
Cast
Erin Reed
Cast
Evan Urquhart
Cast
Elliot Page
Cast
Lewis Raven Wallace
Cast
Miss Peppermint
Cast
Raquel Willis
Producer
Amy Scholder
Producer
Paola Mendoza
Cinematographer
Martin DiCicco
Cinematographer
Mariam Dwedar
Composer
Jonathan Sanford
Editor
Emelie Mahdavian
Other
AE: Nancy Nguyen
Other
EPs: Laverne Cox S. Mona Sinha Bill & Ruth Ann Harnisch Lisa Freeman Sara Hinkle
Other
Contributing Producers: Charlotte Cook James Costa Danielle Benedict Jake Casey
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