Authors and Judges Withdraw from Polari Prize Over John Boyne — the controversy surrounding the 2025 Polari Prize has shaken the literary community, raising urgent questions about inclusivity, diversity, and the responsibility of cultural institutions.
On 6 August 2025, the Polari Prize longlists were announced, featuring queer authors across debut and established categories. This should have been a celebration of 15 years of honoring LGBTQ+ voices. Instead, the spotlight has been stolen by the inclusion of John Boyne, a self-declared “fellow TERF,” which has triggered a wave of withdrawals from both authors and judges.
WHY ARE AUTHORS WITHDRAWING?
The answer is simple: Boyne’s views directly contradict the spirit of the Polari Prize.
Boyne has publicly aligned himself with trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERF), praising figures such as JK Rowling and dismissing trans women’s rights in disparaging terms. In his tribute to Rowling in the Irish Independent, he proudly described himself as a “fellow TERF.” For many authors, that crosses a line.
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Sacha Coward (Queer as Folklore) announced he could not continue “in good faith.”
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Mae Diansangu (Bloodsongs), Jason Okundaye (Revolutionary Acts), Sanah Ashan (I Cannot Be Good Until You Say It), and Amy Twigg (Spoilt Creatures) also withdrew from the First Book Prize.
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Established authors including Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, and Rhian Elizabeth followed suit.
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Even judges walked away: Nicola Dinan, 2024 First Book Prize winner, resigned from the panel, joined by judge Bob Hughes.
Their collective message is loud and clear: an award built on LGBTQ+ inclusion cannot simultaneously platform voices that undermine trans lives.
POLARI PRIZE RESPONSE
In a statement shared on 7 August, the Polari Prize emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The organizers argued that the award’s purpose is to highlight the best LGBTQ+ books of the year, acknowledging that within such a broad community, “radically different positions” sometimes coexist.
But here lies the paradox: when “diversity” is stretched to include voices that actively diminish others, does inclusivity collapse into contradiction?
This is where the Enola commentary style lens matters. Just as society should not apologize for the presence of trans people in a store, literary prizes should not bend to accommodate views that erase identities. Normalizing bigotry under the banner of diversity is a dangerous trap.
JOHN BOYNE’S HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY
This is not Boyne’s first clash with trans issues. His 2019 novel My Brother’s Name is Jessica was widely criticized for its insensitive handling of trans identity, told from the perspective of a sibling rather than the transitioning character herself.
Now, with Earth on the Polari longlist, Boyne again becomes the lightning rod for criticism — not because of his prose, but because of what he represents.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PRIZE?
The Polari Prize stands at a crossroads. With authors and judges leaving, the credibility of the award is on the line. Can it truly celebrate LGBTQ+ voices while platforming a writer who aligns himself with exclusionary movements?
This controversy is more than a literary spat. It’s about the soul of queer culture: who belongs, whose voices matter, and what values our institutions uphold.
If the Polari Prize chooses to double down, it risks alienating the very community it was created to honor. If it listens and adapts, it has a chance to reaffirm its legacy as a beacon for queer literature.
For wider context on inclusive storytelling and trans representation in culture, see GLAAD’s resources on trans inclusion — a practical guide for media and literary spaces that want to uplift, not erase, our community. Explore GLAAD’s guidance here. And for ongoing coverage of LGBTQ+ literature, culture, and policy, browse the Enola Global news hub where this story and related updates will continue to unfold: see more LGBTQ+ news.
