On Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall Auditorium, ArtNow, The Intercultural Center, The Program in Gender & Intersectionality Studies (PGIS), and the Department of Communication hosted a free screening and discussion on the film “Heightened Scrutiny”.
A film by Sam Feder, who is a transgender American Filmmaker, and Amy Scholder, an American literary editor and documentary filmmaker, follows an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney, and the first openly trans person, Chase Strangio, to argue before the Supreme Court. “Heightened Scrutiny” shows as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (United States v. Skrmetti).
Tennessee’s law bans puberty blockers and hormone therapy for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors. The statute says it is not discriminatory.
United States v. Skrmetti held that the Tennessee state law did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in a 6-3 vote.
Amanda Stojanov, MFA, and Associate Professor of Communication, said, “I felt incredibly grateful for the chance to attend the screening of Heightened Scrutiny on campus and for the opportunity to hear from the director, Sam Feder. The film is testament to the joy and resilience within the trans community as the fight for their basic human rights continues.”
The film uncovered the role of mainstream media in anti-trans legislation and the dangers of biased coverage in the media.
Filmmaker Professor, Jake Yuzna, facilitated a talkback with Feder after the screening. Yuzna said, “It was an amazing opportunity to bring an accomplished documentary director like Sam Feder to Monmouth University to present their award winning film. Students and the community were able to meet Sam and discuss their work, the state of documentaries, as well as the impact filmmaking can have today.”
Deanna Shoemaker, PhD, and Chair of the Communication Department said, “This documentary was incredibly moving and beautifully shot. I left thinking about the powerful argument for bodily autonomy and access to healthcare as a human right, period. By joining forces across various social movements, we can fight back against transphobia, the loss of women’s reproductive rights, sexism, racism, gender as a binary, and more. I learned so much about resilience and courage within the transgender community, and the number of community members who came to campus to see this documentary gave me hope.”
“Heightened Scrutiny” is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice. It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and will be in theaters starting July 18.
