Behind the Movie: Heightened Scrutiny

Send us a text

After the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the US vs. Skrmetti case, trans youth and their families have been reeling. The decision upheld state bans on healthcare for trans youth, further stripping away life-saving care and deepening the fear and uncertainty so many of us and our kids already live with. Through it all, Mama Dragons has been here–holding families, offering comfort, and standing as a community of fierce love and unwavering support as this case has unfolded. Today In the Den, Sara sits down with special guests Sam Feder and Erin Reed to go behind the headlines and to explore the longer, more human story–one of courage, resistance, and the fight for dignity, a story that is powerfully told in the new documentary Heightened Scrutiny. This incredible film follows fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio as he 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.

Special Guest: Sam Feder

Sam Feder is a Peabody Award-nominated film director and writer. Sam’s films explore the intersection of visibility and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender. Sam directed the award-winning Netflix Original documentary DISCLOSURE (2020) and the widely acclaimed documentary Kate Bornstein Is a Queer & Pleasant Danger. Sam was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Documentary Branch and is an on-going Project& Fellow.

Special Guest: Erin Reed

Erin Reed, known to her readers by her newsletter, Erin in the Morning, is a transgender journalist based in Washington, D.C. tracking LGBTQ+ legislation around the United States. Her work has been cited by the AP, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many more major media outlets.

Links from the Show:

• Project&: https://projectand.org/
• Find a Heightened Security screening near you: https://www.heightenedscrutinydoc.com/
• Watch a trailer for Heightened Scrutiny here: https://www.heightenedscrutinydoc.com/#trailer
• Find Erin in the Morning’s substack here: https://www.erininthemorning.com/
• Find Erin on Blue Sky at: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:m65ifh7vn5zdgs7izcmht4gy
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

Support the show

Connect with Mama Dragons:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Donate to this podcast