Heightened Scrutiny

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Heightened Scrutiny

1h 29m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

92%

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13 Reviews

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0 Verified Ratings

Fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio battles at the Supreme Court for transgender adolescents' access to gender-affirming healthcare, confronting not only the legal system but also a media landscape that distorts public perception and threatens the struggle for trans rights. With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.

Sam Feder

Director

Gina Chua

Self

Jelani Cobb

Self

Lydia Polgreen

Self

Chase Strangio

Self

Amy Scholder

Producer

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Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

As a trans person, there’s a comfort in hearing the facts laid out so clearly and with such feeling.

Feb 3, 2025

Full Review

Siddhant Adlakha

Variety

An immense amount of care and detail goes into its construction, deepening its use of traditional form and packing a powerful punch.

Feb 3, 2025

Full Review

Jacob Oller

AV Club

Sam Feder’s intimate film spreads out its purview to better understand how the nation took a hard turn against trans people.

Rated: B

Jan 29, 2025

Full Review

Vivian McCall

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

It’s not the most intimate profile—it couldn’t be, Strangio is a high-profile, media-trained lawyer—but Feder’s made a political document worth seeing.

May 28, 2025

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

“Heightened Scrutiny” needs to be required viewing for every journalist, especially in mainstream media, because no one should feel comfortable with being the twenty-first century Goebbels.

Mar 23, 2025

Full Review

Mey Rude

Out Magazine

The film presents Strangio's arguments plainly and logically. If cis children have access to this healthcare, trans kids should, too. If doctors and parents want to do specific treatments, they know better than lawmakers and political talking heads.

Rated: A

Feb 7, 2025

Full Review

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Synopsis

Fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio battles at the Supreme Court for transgender adolescents' access to gender-affirming healthcare, confronting not only the legal system but also a media landscape that distorts public perception and threatens the struggle for trans rights. With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.

Director: Sam Feder
Producer: Amy Scholder, Sam Feder, Paola Mendoza
Distributor: Fourth Act Film
Production Co: Ford Foundation - Just Films
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 29m