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Transgender director Sam Feder's newest feature "Increased Examination" provides a compelling dual perspective – both an personal profile of a leading trans advocate and a pointed examination of media reporting about trans existence.

Judicial Struggle at the Highest Court

The film follows ACLU attorney Chase Strangio as he prepares for court proceedings in the significant Supreme Court case US v Skirmetti. These arguments took place in December 2024, with the judiciary eventually deciding in support of Tennessee's argument, essentially enabling limitations on medical transition for trans youth to remain in effect across multiple US territories.

We produced Heightened Scrutiny in just 16 months, shared Feder during an interview. Meanwhile, my earlier film Disclosure took me half a decade, so this was quite rushed. Our purpose was to stimulate discussion so people would understand more about the case.

Personal Narrative Amid Political Struggle

While Feder offers a thorough critique of how major news organizations have disseminated transphobic rhetoric, the film's greatest accomplishment may be its compelling depiction of Strangio. Usually a cautious lawyer in public settings, Strangio displays his humanity throughout the production.

That was a significant challenge, to open up parts of my life to a documentary crew that I had made efforts to keep confidential, stated Strangio. Feder said he wanted future generations to know that we fought, to see what was done in support of these battles for our fundamental rights.

Varied Perspectives in the Movement

To enhance Strangio's narrative, Feder includes numerous trans advocates, such as well-known individuals from media and the arts. This film also presents perspectives from cisgender supporters who critique how mainstream organizations have contributed to negative reporting of trans people.

The perspective of transgender youth key to the court battle is illustrated through a extraordinary 12-year-old girl named Mila. Viewers initially witness her fighting for her community at a educational meeting, with later moments showing her demonstrating for transgender rights outside the highest court.

Personal Moments Beyond the Courtroom

Heightened Scrutiny also includes emotional moments where Feder moves beyond the ongoing legal battle, including scenes of Strangio vacationing in Italy and getting a tattoo featuring lines from civil rights leader Pauli Murray's poem "Prophecy."

This ink moment is one of my preferred parts in the movie, explained Strangio. Receiving body art is practically like a reflective process for me, to be fully present in my body and to view it as a vessel for things that are significant to me.

Body Identity and Representation

Feder's focus to thoughtfully documenting Strangio getting to his tattoo collection underscores that Heightened Scrutiny is fundamentally about trans physical selves – not only those of youth who face prohibition of their right to live authentically in their own bodies, but also the bodies of the numerous interviewees who are featured in the documentary.

I make films with a message, and part of that is choosing people who are brilliant and eloquent enough to hold the camera, explained Feder. When people ask me what they should wear for an interview, my response is whatever makes you feel confident. This is crucial to me – as trans people, we struggle so much with our self-perception.

Legacy and Hope

One factor that makes Feder's films stand out is his obvious ability for making his transgender participants feel comfortable, acknowledged and admired. This approach creates genuine chemistry between Feder and Strangio, allowing the director to realize his goal of showing Strangio as a multifaceted person and providing a record for coming generations of how resiliently he and fellow activists have struggled for transgender rights.

I don't want people to end up in a state of incessant hopelessness because of what the law is failing to provide us, explained Strangio. I strive to be in a method of using the law to reduce harm, but not to transform it into some type of pathway for our liberatory potential. The government is not going to be the reflection through which we see ourselves. We are that reflection, and it's extremely vital that we keep having that conversation together with conversations about pushing against these regulations and approaches.

This important documentary is now obtainable for streaming during Trans Awareness Week and will receive a broader distribution at a subsequent date.