The Polari Prize, which recognises outstanding works on LGBTQ+ life, has been cancelled for the year following a heated controversy over comments made by one of its nominees, per bbc.com.
The prize announced it would not be awarded in 2025 after several authors withdrew their nominations in protest.
The dispute centred on renowned author John Boyne, best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Boyne was longlisted for his novel Earth, but his inclusion drew widespread criticism after he wrote an article in the Irish Independent defending J.K. Rowling’s views on trans rights. In the piece, Boyne referred to himself as a “fellow Terf”—an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist—and compared women who disagree with Rowling to a character from The Handmaid’s Tale who is complicit in her own “erasure.”
Following Boyne’s nomination, more than a dozen longlisted authors, including Sacha Coward and Jason Okundaye, withdrew their books. Nicola Dinan, a judge for the prize, also resigned from the panel. An open letter signed by over 800 publishing figures condemned Boyne’s comments as “inappropriate and hurtful.”
In response, the prize organisers initially stood by their decision to keep Boyne on the list, stating they do not “eliminate books based on the wider views of a writer.” However, the growing backlash eventually led them to cancel the award for the year, citing “hurt and anger” that had “overshadowed” the event.
The Polari Prize hopes to return in 2026 after a review of its governance and a commitment to increasing representation of trans and gender non-conforming judges.
•Featured image: John Boyne/Getty Images
