Polari Prize Suspends 2025 Competition After Anti-Trans Author Backlash

The Polari Prize, an LGBTQ+ literary award in the UK and Ireland, has paused its 2025 competition following significant controversy over the longlisting of John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, who publicly identified as a 'Terf'—a trans-exclusionary radical feminist—and expressed support for JK Rowling's anti-trans views. Boyne's inclusion led to the withdrawal of 16 authors and two judges from the prize, along with more than 800 industry figures signing a protest statement, arguing that his views contradict the prize's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Initially, the organisers defended Boyne's longlisting on merit but later apologised for the distress caused and announced a full governance and management review to improve representation of trans and non-binary judges and authors. Boyne had offered to remove his book if those who withdrew returned, but the organisers decided to pause the prize to rebuild trust and ensure future inclusivity. The prize, which has been running for 15 years, aims to return in 2026 with revised policies to better support the entire LGBTQ+ community. This controversy highlighted ongoing tensions within LGBTQ+ spaces regarding trans rights and representation.