Post #5: Rodger's Diffusion of Innovations

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Rodger's Diffusion of Innovations or Ideas
 

Everett Rodger's theory of how innovations and ideas are disseminated throughout the populace is a widely used construct that hypothesis how a society adopts a new concept or technology. When used in terms of a societal innovation or progression, Rodger's theory can also be validly applied. In the next section, I'll analyze LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance in the United States using this framework.



While LGBTQ+ folks have been present since prehistory, largely the sex/gender construction was rigid in the United States for much of its early history (with a few notable exceptions). This prevented much traction in the US the later-middle half of the 20th century, with the now infamous Stonewall Riots. These riots brought visibility to the civil injustices that queer folks suffered in the US.

As the bell curve of Rodger's diagram shows, the most significant moment in a concept's adoption comes after a period of rapid adjustment (early to late majority). This adjustment began in the US after the Gay Rights march in 1979 up to the early 21st century, with the Supreme Court striking down sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003.

Later, the Supreme Court would also strike down state laws requiring that marriages be based in traditional sex roles in Obergefell v. Hodges, following the trend of a significant adoption shown in the Rodger's diagram. 

Today, the majority of US citizens support gay/lesbian marriage and couplings (though, acceptance has been waning in recent years), showing a near completion of Rodger's bell curve.


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