Originally a comment by Sastra on Inextricably entwined with cultural fads.

The social contagions that get real social traction are those that can piggyback on something legitimate, and roughly similar. Both Multiple Personality Disorder and Recovered Memory Syndrome were presented as new examples of women/children who suffered abuse in the past which is being dismissed today because “it didn’t happen.” The coping strategies (splitting the mind into separate alters or repressing all knowledge) were legitimized because the person making the claim was clearly suffering. That left the sympathetic with the easy conclusion that This Is Totally Familiar. Kid with behavior problems is being beaten at home. Woman says she was raped and isn’t believed.

Been there; done that; not going back. Believe. Multiple Personality is real and recovered memories legitimate. Skeptically examining the unique properties of the particular way these Totally Familiar issues are manifesting just compounds the sin of not believing. Say it’s a social contagion and it’s just like saying kids don’t get beaten and women don’t get raped. We know what you’re like — and it isn’t nice.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen transgender identities jump on the back of homosexuality. If being trans is a social contagion, then so is being gay. Only bigots think the latter, therefore only bigots think the former.