Love is patient and kind – and strictly between a man and a woman, at least according to an Oklahoma-based romantic writing competition, which decided to ban same-sex entries and prompted a furious backlash from romantic fiction authors.

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.'"

The news was met with an incensed reaction from authors, who suggested boycotting the contest altogether, wrote to RWI to complain and spread the word across the internet. Gregg told the Guardian that she was "staggered" by RWI's "nonchalance". "The arrogant presumption that their behaviour was OK infuriated me as a professional, who (reasonably) expected her work to be considered with the same courtesy and respect afforded to every other romance book, but also as a parent of a LGBT young adult," she said. "Both the professional and the parent responded with an immediate, 'how dare they?'"

"Romance is a genre that is not only about love, but also one that explores people finding an identity and their place within the community," agreed the author Courtney Milan. "To bar same-sex romances from recognition implies that same-sex couples do not deserve to have the same exploration of identity and community belonging that heterosexual couples enjoy. That is a very dangerous and discriminatory message to send."

The Tulsa organisation has now cancelled the competition, saying in a statement on its website that "we have heard and understood the issues raised, and will take those concerns into consideration should the chapter elect to hold contests in the future".

"Please note: our contest coordinator, Jackie, is a chapter member who graciously volunteered to collect entries and sort by category. It is unfortunate that she has become the object of personal ridicule and abuse," added RWI. "We recognise the decision to disallow same-sex entries is highly charged. We also opted not to accept YA entries. We do not condone discrimination against individuals of any sort."

Author Heidi Cullinan, president of Rainbow Romance Writers, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender chapter of the Romance Writers of America, was reluctant to claim cancellation of the contest as a victory. "I suppose it is in a way, but mostly the whole thing makes me sad," said Cullinan. "It's clear the chapter felt threatened and still doesn't fully understand that they were discriminating. The excuse of the moment seems to be that 'same-sex romance is a genre'. No, we aren't. I'll buy that we're a group, a demographic perhaps, but no more than 'Southern women romances' should be a genre or 'non-Caucasians' should be a genre. Same-sex romances cover every genre you can imagine and every one recognized by RWA – even inspirationals."