The Polari Prize, one of the United Kingdom’s most celebrated literary honors for LGBTQ+ writers, has found itself at the heart of a storm this summer. Organizers announced on August 19, 2025, that the 2025 awards would be canceled, following a wave of controversy over the longlisting of author John Boyne—best known for his novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which was adapted into a film in 2008. The decision to include Boyne’s recent novel, Earth, on the longlist ignited heated debate and ultimately led to a mass boycott by authors and judges, forcing the organization to hit pause and reassess its future direction.
The uproar began when Boyne, who has publicly described himself as a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), was named among the longlisted authors for the 2025 Polari Prize. His outspoken support for gender-critical views, including a July 2025 column in the Irish Independent defending the controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, stirred strong reactions within the LGBTQ+ literary community. In that piece, Boyne criticized women who oppose Rowling’s stance, likening them to characters in The Handmaid’s Tale who enable abuse. He wrote, “Rowling's critics claim she is transphobic, the greatest sin of our time, and use the usual tedious hyperbole to demonise her,” according to the Irish Independent.
The backlash was swift and significant. Author Sacha Coward, whose book Queer as Folklore: The Hidden Queer History of Myths and Monsters had been nominated, announced their withdrawal from the competition. "I cannot continue in good faith with the competition," Coward stated, as reported by the Guardian. Another longlisted author, Jason Okundaye, also pulled out, describing Boyne’s views as "abhorrent" and expressing that he felt "misled about the principles underpinning the organisation." Okundaye’s public statement in the Guardian underscored a sense of betrayal felt by many: "I felt misled about the principles underpinning the organisation."
It wasn’t just the authors who took a stand. Two judges resigned from the awards panel, and the protest quickly escalated into a mass boycott. More than 10 of the 24 longlisted authors withdrew their work, leaving the competition in disarray and the Polari organization facing unprecedented scrutiny. The committee, acknowledging the scale of the crisis, released a statement: "What was meant to be a celebration of exceptional LGBTQ+ literature has instead been overshadowed by hurt and anger."
Organizers were quick to assert their commitment to the trans and non-binary community. "Polari is not and has never been a trans exclusionary organization," the committee emphasized. "We condemn all forms of transphobia." The organization noted its history of honoring trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary writers, but admitted that Boyne’s nomination had left many feeling excluded and betrayed.
In the wake of the controversy, the Polari committee announced a full governance review and pledged to expand representation of transgender and gender non-conforming voices on its judging panels. The organization’s statement continued, "We extend our heartfelt apologies to everyone affected this year, for the disappointment and despair this has caused. We are a tiny operation that has run on goodwill and small pots of funding and sponsorship for 15 years and will endeavour to find a way forwards in good faith."
J.K. Rowling, whose own views on gender identity have been the subject of heated debate for several years, weighed in on the situation with her characteristic bluntness. Responding to the news of the controversy, Rowling tweeted, "Oh, f*ck off. I hope everyone buys twice as many @JohnBoyneBooks, a) because he’s brilliant, and b) to piss off the Gender Taliban." Her remarks, reported by multiple outlets, only added fuel to the fire—galvanizing some, while further alienating others.
The Polari Prize has long been recognized as a vital platform for LGBTQ+ voices in British literature. Its organizers have prided themselves on fostering diversity and championing marginalized authors. Yet, this year’s events revealed deep divisions within the community about the boundaries of inclusion and the responsibilities of literary institutions. The controversy has prompted soul-searching not just for Polari, but for the wider world of LGBTQ+ arts and culture.
Looking ahead, the Polari committee has promised a thorough review of its policies, aims, and values, with a special focus on supporting trans and non-binary authors. They have also committed to strengthening the representation of these communities on all future judging panels. The organization’s statement made clear that the difficult decision to cancel the 2025 awards was made in hopes of creating a more inclusive, thoughtful, and representative competition in the years to come.
For many, the episode has raised important questions about freedom of expression, the limits of tolerance, and the balance between open debate and safe spaces. Some argue that the inclusion of authors with controversial views is a necessary part of literary discourse, while others insist that such choices can do real harm to vulnerable communities. The Polari Prize’s decision to pause and reflect may offer a model for other institutions grappling with similar challenges.
Despite the turmoil, organizers remain hopeful. They have assured the public that the Polari Prize will return, with plans to resume the awards in 2026 after the completion of their governance and policy review. As they put it, "We will endeavour to find a way forwards in good faith."
As the dust settles, the literary world—and the LGBTQ+ community at large—will be watching closely to see how the Polari Prize responds. The outcome could set a precedent for how cultural organizations navigate the complex intersection of art, identity, and activism in an era of rapidly shifting social norms.
For now, the absence of the Polari Prize in 2025 stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing debates over representation and inclusion in the arts, and the challenges faced by even the most well-intentioned organizations in living up to their ideals.
