今日吃瓜

The UK鈥檚 leading LGBTQIA+ book awards, the Polari Prize, has been subject to widespread criticism this year following the inclusion of a vocally transphobic author on its recently released longlist.

A self-described TERF, John Boyne was nominated in the First Book category for his novella 贰补谤迟丑,听leading to the withdrawal of ten authors and two judges from the competition.

More than 800 writers, editors, publishers and booksellers have also signed an to Prize organisers, calling on them to remove Boyne’s nomination and rejecting transphobic rhetoric.

Posting to on Thursday, Boyne said he had endured “endless harassment at the hands of both strangers and fellow writers.鈥�

鈥淚 remained silent throughout but there鈥檚 been a few moments where I thought it would be easier not to go on,” he said. “There鈥檚 really only so much abuse one person can take. However, I鈥檓 still here. Because I have too many books in me that I still want to write.鈥�

Boyne also took the opportunity to reiterate his transphobic beliefs, writing 鈥淎ll human beings should have the same rights, but if the rights of trans women come into conflict with the rights of what you call 鈥榗is鈥� women, then the latter must take precedence.鈥�

He also thanked the organisers and remaining judges of the Polari Prize for “standing strong in the face of extraordinary intimidation.”

Boyne refused to withdraw from the longlist, but said that should all the debut writers return, he would ask the judges not to consider his book for the shortlist.

鈥淚t seems absurd and wrong to me that so many debut writers are losing their opportunity for this, either through misguided ideas about who I am or, as I鈥檓 aware has happened in some cases, because you too were bullied or intimated into withdrawing.鈥�

At the time of publication, none of the withdrawn authors had taken Boyne up on his offer.

Only trans author refuses to withdraw nomination

Dr Avi Ben-Zeev, the only trans author nominated for the Polari Prize this year, Pink今日吃瓜 earlier this week that walking away from the longlist would only erase his trans story.

鈥淚 support those who withdrew because they voted with their conscience, I just wish there was more recognition that there are more ways to respond,” he said.

“I think there鈥檚 more nuance to this situation because Polari didn鈥檛 know, and we should use what happened as an opportunity for discussions about how to protect trans and nonbinary people from TERFy folks in our queer communities.

鈥淒o I hold [Polari officials] responsible? Yes. They should have [researched] it鈥� they should have done a much better job. But if I thought the Polari Prize was transphobic, I would have left.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really the only prize we have that鈥檚 taken seriously. It鈥檚 changed a lot of聽queer authors鈥� [careers], and we need that. But at the same time, there鈥檚 a learning curve.鈥�

He also urged the organisers to be “a lot more explicit” in their rejection of transphobia.

鈥淭hey need to look deep into their values and make sure they specify that if someone鈥檚 TERF beliefs come to light post-nomination, then there should be a right to rescind [their inclusion on the list]. I have faith they鈥檒l go back and change their [policies] so this will never happen again.”

In a statement released on 7 August, the Polari Prize said it was 鈥渇ounded on the core principles of diversity and inclusion鈥� and reiterated their support for trans stories and voices.

鈥淚t is inevitable given the challenges we face and the diversity of the lived experience we now represent under the LGBTQ+ Polari umbrella, that even within our community, we can at times hold radically different positions on substantive issues. This is one of those times.

鈥淛ohn Boyne鈥檚 novel聽Earth was included on The Polari Prize longlist on merit as judged by our jury, following the process and principles stated above. While we do not eliminate books based on the wider views of a writer, we regret the upset and hurt this has caused.”