"TERF author" John Boyne says Polari Prize backlash brought him ‘close to the edge’
– 2 min read
Irish "TERF author" John Boyne has spoken out following a wave of backlash over his inclusion in the longlist for the 2025 Polari Prize, a UK award celebrating LGBTQ+ literature. Boyne, best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, was nominated for his novella Earth, but his presence on the list has sparked significant controversy due to his past comments on trans issues.
Boyne, who has described himself as a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), faced criticism for a tribute he wrote to J.K. Rowling earlier this year, in which he aligned himself with her views on gender identity. In the piece, Boyne accused some women who support trans rights of being “complicit in their own erasure” and likened them to characters from The Handmaid’s Tale.
I've remained silent over the last week with regard to the @PolariPrize as I wanted to get my thoughts in order.
— John Boyne Books (@JohnBoyneBooks) August 14, 2025
Many thanks to all the people who've contacted me with messages of support.
This is all I have to say, and all I will ever say, on the subject. -JB pic.twitter.com/PKuo2X91pD
Following the announcement of the longlist on 6 August, at least twelve authors and two judges withdrew from the prize in protest. Among them were Sacha Coward, Jason Okundaye, Mae Diansangu, and Nicola Dinan, the 2024 First Book Prize winner, who also resigned from the judging panel.
Over 800 publishing professionals signed a petition demanding Boyne’s removal from the list, citing his views as harmful to the trans community.
Boyne responded by urging those who had withdrawn to reconsider, calling the boycott “misguided” and expressing that the backlash had brought him “close to the edge” emotionally. He defended his novella as a work of literary merit and maintained that the prize should focus on the quality of writing rather than the personal beliefs of its authors.
The Polari Prize issued an update this week, saying it wishes to "sincerely apologise" and accepts "the decision of those writers and judges who have chosen to withdraw."
They added: "We are committed to going forward with the prize this year. However, we will be intaking a full review of the prize processes, consulting representatives from across the community ahead of next year's awards, taking on board the learnings from this year."
