Sigh. Yeah, it's 2012, but there are still people out there who don't believe that gay romance is "real" romance. I guess that shouldn't surprise anybody.

What did surprise me is that this discrimination takes place in the romance writers' own organization, Romance Writers of America. The Tulsa Chapter's contest judges are (quote) "uncomfortable" with same-sex pairings - and they have therefore banned same-sex entries to the More than Magic contest.

I can't even begin to explain why this makes me sad, so let me keep to the professional reasons: Gay romance allows the writer to explore entirely new dynamics when it comes to the characters' interaction as well as plot development - dynamics which aren't there in good old "straight" romance. There's a reason why so many straight women read gay romance.

If you disagree with this decision, please go here to sign author Sara York's petition to the RWA.