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

[QAOPspaceman]

A third of the nominated authors and a judge have withdrawn from the Polari prize because John Boyne, apparently a self-confessed terf (!)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://www.thebookseller.com/news/polari-prize-will-review-processes-after-a-third-of-nominated-authors-withdraw-books-from-longlist

https://archive.ph/J39nH

I was just reading an opinion piece about this in the Guardian and came here to see of there was already a thread running.

Reading the article I found myself reflecting on the unintended consequences of the conflation of the LGB and the TQ. As a result being gay seems to now require a particular political stance, despite being a simple matter of sexual preference.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/15/book-lgbtq-literary-polari-prize-trans-rights?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Yes, I read it, @newrubylane. He quotes the prize saying that political opinions are not a reason for exclusion and also acknowledges that the "prize have always been for the entire LGBTQ+ community". I would interpret this to mean all gay, trans, etc., voices are represented, whether their views are palatable or not. His wording that being for the entire community is evidenced by the inclusion of trans writers is wholly aligned with that reading, but he goes on to say this is at odds with the inclusion of 'TERF' viewpoints. He seems to interpret "for the whole community" as meaning no offence may be caused to part of that community from within.

To be fair, Polari seem to be confused themselves; he mentions Julie Bindel not being welcome at the end of his article.

However, I'm a straight woman and arguments among this group really are none of my business. What is, is the usual misrepresentation of the debate around trans issues. The "unprecedented levels of harassment and political antagonism" he mentions is unaccompanied by any reference to women and women's rights. He may disagree with our views, but I'm fed up with the vague dismissal of dissent as bigotry and aggression, leaving women and the arguments we are making out altogether.

He also states at the end that "the swell of public support is behind those who are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community". What does that mean? I would say I am supportive - but not of self-ID, removal of female-only spaces and all the rest. The usual sleight of hand to paint an only-bigots-are-against-us picture.

I read this and was particularly struck by the last sentence:
'Perhaps bridges will be rebuilt and the community will return, or we will go off and build something else.'
The trans community in particular not being known for building something for themselves rather than nicking other people's stuff.

Hanako Footman also withdrew: www.instagram.com/hanakofootman/p/DNQXB3Zotpk/?hl=en

Everyone's favourite ex-tax-lawyer has now weighed in. I am not sure it's going to end well for him.

Since believing in gender ideology involves denying the existence of women (or men) as a sex class, AND denying the existence of same-sex-attracted people, I’d say on that basis all genderwoo believers should be excluded surely.

Jolly-On once again proving that his legal expertise is in Tax, not Defamation or Equalities.

Ngl, I’m hoping Boyne takes Rowling up on that offer - one GC author supporting another, in the spirit of friendship (with a side order of a financial spanking for Mr Maugham. Shame he’s already sold his windmill because I think John Boyne would look rather spiffing in that Mid Century Modern interior).

Was going to respond to that post then realised I’m blocked 🙄

I always feel powerless when this type of shit happens to those who refuse to meekly follow the TRA line, so I do the only thing I can do and buy their books, music, etc.

I now own several versions of JKR's series (hardcopy, audio - different narrators, kindle)😂 Am now doing the same for John.

We support you John!

@TheAntiGardeneragree entirely

More news:

Hmm sounds suspiciously like a plan to make the judging panel TRA enough that this situation won't happen again because GC writers won't even get a look-in. Unless they are careful to select open-minded trans people, of whom there are some.

Gerrymandering.

Making themselves irrelevant, then

Or, making themselves so niche they disappear up their own crack.

Just started reading Earth. Excellent so far. Thanks to the tra's for bringing it to my attention 💋

Exactly what I thought.

The toxic gender identity movement destroys absolutely everything it touches, doesnt it? (as well as people's brains, rationality and ethics). Shameful capitulation to hard-of-thinking bullies.

I am so, so tired of this luxury, fact free bullshit infecting the so-called "left", academia,media and the arts. It's essentially just a cultlike fundamentalist religion for the middle classes. Can they really not even see themselves or are they so puffed up with their supposed righteousness and superior intellect, despite having literally neither of those things? Embarrassing & shameful.

Once the first toys got thrown out of the pram, the ball was in JB’s court. His gracious, measured reply and the refusal of the toy chuckers to engage had meant this is the prize team’s best option.
It’s like being in nursery again - if you can’t all play together nicely…..

I would have said their best option was to recognise that many gay and lesbian people are GC for obvious reasons - gender ideology does not allow for same-sex attraction and is homophobic - and announce that they expect nominees to accept that they may be listed alongside those with whom they disagree and to bloody well lump it with good grace (as of course JB and several others did, because they're not 2).

I would have announced that the prize is for literary merit and no one will be excluded for fully legal, WORIADS views and expression thereof. If anyone doesn't like it and wants to exclude themselves, bye, don't let the door hit your arse on the way out but that is your decision and not the prize committee's fault for refusing to include only one viewpoint.

There i fixed it :)

It's an informal section 28 applied to GC people.

That's disgraceful. They've basically declared oops we forgot to discriminate against GC people, so we're not even going to run the awards.

There is clearly going to be discrimination going on in future and because it's a subjective long list it's going to be very hard for anyone to challenge it legally. Unless either there's a whistleblower on the panel, or such a blow-away success book that no-one will believe its exclusion is other than prejudice against the author's views.

What's the way around this legally? Does John Boyne need to bring a discrimination case even though he isn't someone who needs to care about awards? Because some newcomer who may or may not have won is never going to be in a position to are they.

Well yes @WhatterySquash but no one has the cojones to do that though, so here we are. Everything will need to be rebuilt from the ground up (see also NLS, NHS……)

That statement has made me rage. These terrible bullies destroy anything and anyone decent. If you want to support John Boyne and read a really good book, "The Heart's Invisible Furies' is 99p on Kindle at the moment. It's a truly fantastic read. The Audible version is beautifully read too.
I would argue the only thing which has benefitted from this is John Boyne's book sales..