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Literary awards cancelled over inclusion of self-described 'Terf'
The Guardian
|August 20, 2025
A prize celebrating LGBTQ+ literature has cancelled its awards this year after a row over the longlisting of an author who has described himself as a "Terf" - the acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
From a longlist of 24, 16 authors and two judges withdrew from this year's prize and more than 800 writers and publishing industry workers signed a statement protesting against the inclusion of John Boyne, the author best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
Polari said it had decided to "pause the prize this year" while it increased "representation of trans and gender non-conforming judges on the panels for all the awards" and undertook "a governance and management review", organisers said in a statement. "What was supposed to be a celebration of exceptional LGBTQ+ literature has been overshadowed by hurt and anger, which has been painful and distressing for all concerned and we apologise to everyone who has been affected," it added.
This story is from the August 20, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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