Irish Author John Boyne at Centre of Polari Prize Storm

Irish author John Boyne at centre of Polari Prize storm

Widely read writer’s public criticism of aspects of transgender activism and gender identity politics sparks withdrawals

Polari Prize long list's only trans author explains why he's choosing to stay

The only trans author on this year’s Polari Prize long list has said he refused to be “bullied” into withdrawing, following a controversy over the inclusion of a self-proclaimed a trans-exclusionary radical feminist, or “TERF”. The author of Calling My Deadname Home, Dr Avi Ben-Zeev, told PinkNews that, while he understood and supported authors choosing to withdraw their books from the UK’s annual literary award list, he refused to “disappear an…

Polari Prize issues update after being plunged into controversy following inclusion of "TERF author" John Boyne on 2025 longlist

The Polari Prize, the annual prize for LGBTQ+ literature, has issued an update after being plunged into controversy following the inclusion of "TERF author" John Boyne on its 2025 longlist. Boyne, best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, has publicly described himself as a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), a stance that has sparked widespread backlash within the queer literary community. Boyne’s novella Earth was longlisted for…