The Polari Prize 2025 has received criticism, including authors withdrawing their books and judges resigning from the panel, after self-described ‘TERF’ writer John Boyne’s novel, Earth was included on one of the longlists. The Polari Prize is the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ writing award, so, in a world that already targets trans people, many of the writers involved in this year’s prize, as either potential winners or judges, have made their objections to Boyne’s inclusion very clear.
At the time of writing, 14 of the 24 authors longlisted have now withdrawn from the Polari Prize. In ‘The Polari Book Prize 2025’ category, in which Boyne is included, the authors to withdraw their books include: Olumide Popoola with Like Water Like Sea, Robert Hamberger with Nude Against a Rock, Andrew MacMillan with Pity, Rhian Elizabeth with Girls, Etc., and Jane Traies with 3,000 Lesbians Go to York.
While on the ‘Polari First Book Prize’ longlist, only three authors currently remain, with nine others withdrawing. Among those to withdraw their books are: Curtis Garner with Isaac, Jason Okundaye with Revolutionary Acts: Love and Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, Sacha Coward with Queer as Folklore, Sanah Ahsan with I Cannot Be Good Until You Say It, Amy Twigg with Spoilt Creatures, Mae Diansangu with Bloodsongs, Eleanor Medhurst with Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion, Chiara Maguire with Impossible Heat, and June Thomas with A Place of Our Own.
While other authors, including Karen Mcleod and Avi Ben-Zeev, have released a statement addressing their reasons not to withdraw their works.
The statement explains: “As Polari Prize longlisted authors, we stand in solidarity with each other’s decisions. We find ourselves in a terrible situation. There are good reasons to stay and good reasons to withdraw. Some have taken swift actions, others have needed time for private slower reflection. We’re devastated that transphobia has shifted the conversation away from the celebration of LGBTQ+ literature. We send love and support to our trans and nonbinary communities.
Polari Prize longlists, author withdrawals as collated by Jay Hulme.
Two judges have also resigned from the prize; Nicola Dinan, trans author of Bellies and Disappoint Me (the latter of which won the 2024 First Book Polari Prize), and playworker, Bob Hughes.
The Polari Prize has responded with their own statement, suggesting that the award was “founded on the core principles of diversity and inclusion.”
“We are committed to supporting trans rights and amplifying trans voices, as demonstrated both in the history of the prize and the Polari salon, where trans and non-binary writers and performers have featured regularly as valued members of the LGBTQ+ writing community,” the lengthy statement continues.
“The role of the prize is to discover the best LGBTQ+ books written in the UK and Ireland each year. The books are read and deliberated over by the jury, and progress through the competition stages on the merits of craft and content.
“The Polari prize is awarded to books in a spirit of celebration of the work and the stories they tell. We have always cherished freedom of expression in our determination to find our voice both as writers and readers.
“It is inevitable, given the challenges we face and the diversity of the lived experience we now represent under the LGBTQ+ Polari umbrella, that even within our community, we can at times hold radically different positions on substantive issues. This is one of those times.
“John Boyne’s novel Earth was included on The Polari Prize longlist on merit as judged by our jury, following the process and principles stated above. While we do not eliminate books based on the wider views of a writer, we regret the upset and hurt this has caused.
“Polari is committed to inclusion, not exclusion. The resignation of our valued judge and former First Book Prize-winner Nicola Dinan causes us great sadness. Nonetheless we completely understand and respect her decision.
“Books are one of our best means to explore the most difficult and divisive issues, and we encourage an open dialogue across our community. It remains deeply important to us that trans and non-binary readers and writers feel welcome, safe and supported by the Polari Prize and the Polari Salon and continue to participate in our movement as readers, writers and performers.”
