Charlotte Shields-Rossi | staff writer

Duquesne law student Riley Del Rey not only has a love for law and the Constitution but also for film.

“I believe that film and TV are a test bed of our society, so what we see on the screen is what we tolerate in our society,” Del Rey said.

Del Rey, who is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, reached out to Sam Feder, the director of “Heightened Scrutiny,” to host a screening of the film.

On Friday, 20 people gathered in Duquesne’s Hillman Lecture Hall to watch the film and speak with the director. The room was filled with law students and lawyers, all members of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

The film was hosted by the American Constitution Society at Duquesne to study fundamental rights and civil liberties under the 14th Amendment, which ensures equal protection under the law.

The unreleased film follows transgender lawyer, Chase Strangio, and his preparation for United States v. Skrmetti, a pending United States Supreme Court case. In the case, Strangio argues that states denying gender-affirming care to minors violates the 14th Amendment on the basis of sex discrimination.

Minh Ho, first-year law student at Duquesne, was most interested in the legal aspects of the case, which was highlighted in the film through Strangio’s perspective as a lawyer.

“It has an impact on all of us, and it’s on a very specific subject, but I think when the court has a decision it will impact all Americans, and I think everyone should know about it,” Ho said.

Ambergris Tindall, first-year law student at Duquesne, also came to the screening to learn more about the United States v. Skrmetti case.

“Every time they interpret the Constitution in a way that deals with rights and discrimination you never know exactly how that’s going to impact people, but it’s always much broader than you’d be able to predict,” Tindall said.

Although the 89-minute film was set around a specific case, it also included the joy and hardship the LGBTQ+ community faces, following the struggles and success of Strangio.

Nikki Ripley is the head of legal services at the Healing Wellness Foundation, an LGBTQ+ health and wellness nonprofit. The organization is public health oriented, offering a food pantry, youth and family services, training, case management and legal help, which Ripley oversees. Ripley attended the screening because they found that they could relate to Strangio.

“I find that advocating for a community while also being a member of it presents struggles both personally and professionally,” Ripley said.

Ripley has been following United States v. Skrmetti closely, but as a member of the LGBTQ+ community enjoyed the behind the scenes of the case the most.

“That’s the most relatable I have ever seen a Supreme Court case set up,” Ripley said.

Del Rey shared the same sentiment as Ripley. Highlighting the stories of transgender people was the most impactful part of the film for her.

“It’s a film that memorializes the joy. Trans people hurt like everyone else does, but we also experience the same joy,” Del Rey said. “It’s important to memorialize the lives and stories of transgender people because to tell our story is to survive.”

After the screening was over Feder met with the attendees on Zoom to discuss the film. Feder and attendees began a conversation on how they remain hopeful while LGBTQ+ rights are on the line. Feder and some attendees expressed that they didn’t feel positive, and it was hard for them to stay hopeful. Others cited that this film actually made them feel the hope and joy that they didn’t have previously.

“The more that we have transgender stories that are told authentically and not from an uninformed and hateful edge, I think that we can go a long way in humanizing people and realizing that transgender people are ordinary people who live ordinary lives and deserve equal respect and protection that the constitution affords them,” Del Rey said.