Polari Prize organisers cancel book prize over trans controversy

John Boyne, known for writing in striped pajamas, has long been listed for the Polari Award for his latest novel Earth at the beginning of this month.

However, some other candidate writers objected to an article that advocates Boyne’s attitude towards JK Rowling’s transfers and women’s rights, and asked to be removed from the long list. More than 800 figures in the broadcasting sector He signed an open letter criticize your candidacy.

The organizers of the Polar Award said it would not be given this year, but they hoped that it would return in 2026.

In a statement published before the award scrapped, Boyne said that “their views on trans rights have never changed” and “encountered endless harassment in the hands of both foreigners and other writers.”

The Polari Award established in 2011 is open to or centered writers born in the UK or Ireland, who wrote about LGBTQ+ life experiences.

It started as a single -year award for the best first book that recognizes the first works. In 2019, a second award was given for the general book of the year.

Inside An article in Irish Independent on July 27, Boyne, a gay, supported Harry Potter writer Rowling, who has been explained by his views on tension between trans rights and protection of women’s fields in recent years.

Boyne described himself as a “promotion” representing the external external radical feminist, and said that Rowling was “imprisoned” because of his stance.

In recent years, Rowling compared with the wife of a commander in the patriarchal regime, which was “surprisingly in the deletion of his own deletion, and” his husband, who was ready to fix them from a handmadaid while his husband was raping him.

“Rowling’s critics claim that he is the greatest sin of our time, and use the usual boring exaggeration to demonize it.”

However, his supporters said that women were encouraged by “advocacy” on issues such as “safe areas”.

The long list for the Polari award was announced on August 1st and other writers with other nominated authors were taken to protest the inclusion of Boyne.

Sacha Coward said that “he can’t continue in good faith” in order to participate in the event he said, “not to exclude and divide, but celebrate to be included.”

Candidate Mae Dancesangu said Boyne was “disgusting views”.

A long -term writer, Jason reads, He wrote an article in Guardian Describing Boyne’s views as “disgusting” with withdrawing his candidacy, he felt that the organization was misleading about the supporting principles.

More than 10 writers listed for a long time, has removed from a total of 24.

The figures in the publishing industry, which signed an open letter, said that the inclusion of Boyne was “inappropriate and hurtful” and “deeply disappointed” by saying that “the LGBTQ+ community is incompatible with the most basic inclusion standards.”

Nicola Dinan, one of the own judges of the award, won the first book award last year and resigned from the panel for this year’s protest.

However, Dr. Avi Ben-Zeev, the only trans writer on the long list, said he would remain on the list. Telling to PinkNews He supported others back, but “there was nothing more conveying than seeing that people like me disappeared … I wipe my trans story if I get away”.

Following Dinan’s resignation, the Polari award said that it “fully understood and respected the decision.”

However, Boyne remained on the long list at this point, the organizers say in a statement: “Even in our community, we can hold different positions on important issues from time to time. This is one of those times.”

He added that the award was “determined to be included” and “the books based on the broader views of a writer, but that we are upset and suffered from this”.

Boyne made a statement later He stops by his opinions and thank the Polar Award for “Strong Standing In The Against Extraordinary Enterprise”.

He said he had received “an extraordinary amount of bullying and intimidation” that pushed him “close to the edge”.

He also encouraged the authors to return to the long list, and claimed that the prize would not want the judges not to choose their own book to move to the short list.

But Monday, Poları announced this year’s award would not continue.

Organizers, “affected everyone” apologizing, “Extraordinary LGBTQ+ literature should be a celebration, worrying and troubled hurt and anger was left in the shadow.” He said.

Polari, writers, judges, stakeholders and fund providers consulted and “this year in panels decided to pause the representation of trans and gender judges decided to pause the award” and undertake a governance and management investigation, he said.

As a result, “he will try to find a forward -looking way in good faith,” he concluded.