Werewolves, Yes; Gays, No

The Guardian reports: ‘Romance Writers Ink, the Tulsa, Oklahoma chapter of the Romance Writers of America, runs the “More than Magic” writing competition. The contest accepts entries covering romance about vampires and werewolves, romance set in the future and the past, erotica and urban fantasy – but decided this year that it would “no longer accept same-sex entries in any category.” Romantic fiction novelist Kari Gregg says she got in touch with the contest to ask why, and was told that “RWI chapter members were uncomfortable with accepting same-sex contest entries. ‘Same-sex was just too much.”‘ Yes, dear, same-sex is too much: thank God! More seriously, gay and straight writers have been using vampires as code for forbidden (i.e. same-sex) love for centuries, and I don’t think they should stop now. Just because Tom Cruise bit a girl in “Interview with a Vampire” doesn’t mean Tom Cruise bit a girl.

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