Page 9 | Polari prize nominees withdraw over inclusion of 'terf' John Boyne

QAOPspaceman · 2025-08-11T15:57:04+00:00

A third of the nominated authors and a judge have withdrawn from the Polari prize because John Boyne, apparently a self-confessed terf (!) and friend of JK Rowling (!!!), is nominated. He wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and has previously said "while I will happily employ any term that a person feels best defines them... I reject the notion that someone can force an unwanted term on to another" so is clearly a fascist. Have never read his stuff but am tempted to order his complete works immediately. [[https://archive.ph/J39nH https://www.thebookseller.com/news/polari-prize-will-review-processes-after-a-third-of-nominated-authors-withdraw-books-from-longlist]] [[https://archive.ph/J39nH https://archive.ph/J39nH]]

TwelvePercent · 11/08/2025 23:47

The Hearts Invisible Furies is only 99p on kindle at the moment.

Based on the glowing recommendations here, I'll be giving it a go on my hols next week

LizzieSiddal · 11/08/2025 21:57

John Boyne is a brilliant author. Get reading if you haven’t already.

WhatterySquash · 11/08/2025 21:47

When Kiran Millwood Hargrave withdrew from a Mslexia judging panel because a writer who had defended JKR was also on it (Amanda Craig), Mslexia booted out Craig as a response. Maybe that's what this lot think they can engineer. I hope the prize organisers have the guts to not crap on Boyne.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 11/08/2025 21:18

I so hope he wins. 😂

It sounds like a bunch of would be writers realising they don't stand a chance against a real writer, so they're pulling out and trying to make out it's all because of the hurty feelz.

The more of them that cancel themselves the better, less dross taking up room on the shelfs in bookshops means more room for the good stuff. 😁

AlexandraLeaving · 11/08/2025 21:10

Joking aside, I reckon @QAOPspaceman‘s suggestion of “The Man In The Pooey Nappies” could also hit hard. It’s not “just want to pee” or “being my authentic self” it’s much much more.

TheKeatingFive · 11/08/2025 21:10

I loved BITSP

JazzyJelly · 11/08/2025 21:04

I read The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas with my class. Excellent book, hit hard.

lcakethereforeIam · 11/08/2025 20:56

If John Boynes books are of the same quality of his apology to Glinner they'll be brilliant. I should definitely try them out.

wimonnzy · 11/08/2025 20:49

Who took away our laughing emoji FGS. We are not trusted with fun obv.

@DworkinWasRight 😂😂😂

DworkinWasRight · 11/08/2025 20:42

QAOPspaceman · 11/08/2025 19:38

Don't tell me he's erasing the furries as well?! What's his next hate-filled, kink-shaming book going to be? The Man in the Pooey Nappies?

Show quote history

“Invisible furries” is a brilliant typo.

GRCP · 11/08/2025 20:07

He’s an amazing writer

Original poster

QAOPspaceman · 11/08/2025 19:38

BlueOceanFish · 11/08/2025 17:49

The hearts invisible furries is a bloody fantastic book and I had no idea same author as the boy in striped pyjamas!

Don't tell me he's erasing the furries as well?! What's his next hate-filled, kink-shaming book going to be? The Man in the Pooey Nappies?

OP posts:

DworkinWasRight · 11/08/2025 19:18

It’s very funny - these people are insane. It seems an obviously skewed list in that you have two genuine stars on the list - Alan Hollinghurst, one of the foremost writers of his generation, and John Boyne, who has the kind of sales the others would kill for. Removing yourself from the list makes zero difference to the eventual outcome.

SharonEllis · 11/08/2025 18:40

TheKeatingFive · 11/08/2025 18:01

Sacha Coward is well named 😂

Ugh he's dreadful. Check out his social media. He is so self obsessed.

WinterTrees · 11/08/2025 18:19

'Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion' sounds like an interesting read. I hope Eleanor Medhurst withstands the inevitable pressure.

Greyskybluesky · 11/08/2025 18:06

Ah, yet another example of the crime of "alignment". Which, according to another thread, doesn't really exist!

TheKeatingFive · 11/08/2025 18:01

Sacha Coward is well named 😂

Theswiveleyeballsinthesky · 11/08/2025 18:00

Latest list I could find

Polari prize nominees withdraw over inclusion of 'terf' John Boyne

Original poster

QAOPspaceman · 11/08/2025 17:58

Slanted piece by Assigned Media but it does have the names:
https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/polari-prize-lgbtq-authors-withdraw-protesting-john-boyne-inclusion

First Book prize list below: respect to Jane Cholmeley, Hanako Footman, Hugo Greenhalgh and Eleanor Medhurst, I guess, who are probably being cancelled as we speak

Queer Authors Withdraw From Writing Prize En Masse Over Inclusion of Self-Proclaimed TERF — Assigned

A UK LGBTQ+ writing prize seems to be crumbling as the queer community protests the inclusion of an anti-trans writer on the long list. Trans prisoners in Georgia accuse the state of cruel and unusual punishment. And the US military is reneging on thei...

https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/polari-prize-lgbtq-authors-withdraw-protesting-john-boyne-inclusion

OP posts:

NumberTheory · 11/08/2025 17:50

Wish they’d name names so we know who the censorious writers and the like are. They need keeping from any area of judgement about writing.

BlueOceanFish · 11/08/2025 17:49

The hearts invisible furries is a bloody fantastic book and I had no idea same author as the boy in striped pyjamas!

TheKeatingFive · 11/08/2025 17:48

lechiffre55 · 11/08/2025 17:43

Boyne also rather famously had a big falling out with Graham Lineham over gender and trans. Boyne was particularly nasty to Lineham for being gender critical, same sex spaces etc... Then a friend of Boyne, a female Irish musician accidentally stepped on a gender social land mine and got blown up resulting in loads of extremely nasty gender backlash. It took a while for Boyne to understand what the fuck was going on, but after he'd had a long think on it, an out of the blue apology got publicly posted to Lineham. No lawyers or legal threats were involved to twist Boyne's arm, just he saw how crazy the gender woowoo can get and decided to nope the fuck out of Dodge. Operation let them speak had peaked another.
It takes a lot to realise something you believed very strongly is wrong, and to apologise sincerely with no snark or bitterness. I tip my hat to Boyne, that shows a lot of good character.

Yes, he has a lot of integrity.

As for the idiotic little pr*cks trying to cancel him 🙄

JaninaDuszejko · 11/08/2025 17:47

wimonnzy · 11/08/2025 17:02

Good ole JB.

OP, I can recommend "The Hearts Invisible Furies", and "The Echo Chamber"

Get reading them immediately!

Mind blown. I have just this minute found out that the author of 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' and 'My Brother's Name is Jessica' is the same person who wrote 'The Hearts Invisible Furies'. How did I not realise this?

mrshoho · 11/08/2025 17:46

Such sad, pathetic babies. Do they have any idea how utterly silly their actions are?

lechiffre55 · 11/08/2025 17:43

Boyne also rather famously had a big falling out with Graham Lineham over gender and trans. Boyne was particularly nasty to Lineham for being gender critical, same sex spaces etc... Then a friend of Boyne, a female Irish musician accidentally stepped on a gender social land mine and got blown up resulting in loads of extremely nasty gender backlash. It took a while for Boyne to understand what the fuck was going on, but after he'd had a long think on it, an out of the blue apology got publicly posted to Lineham. No lawyers or legal threats were involved to twist Boyne's arm, just he saw how crazy the gender woowoo can get and decided to nope the fuck out of Dodge. Operation let them speak had peaked another.
It takes a lot to realise something you believed very strongly is wrong, and to apologise sincerely with no snark or bitterness. I tip my hat to Boyne, that shows a lot of good character.