An attempt to have award-winning author, John Boyne, removed from the longlist for this year’s Polari prizes, has been described as “attempted mob rule”, after 800 writers and workers in the publishing industry signed a statement criticising his inclusion.
The Polari prize is a set of UK awards which recognise LGBTQ+ literature. It was reported this morning that a third of nominated authors on the longlist for prizes have withdrawn their books from consideration, while two judges have also withdrawn. The prize organisers have promised “a full review of the prize processes” – and “sincerely” apologised for “hurt and anger” caused.
The letter said that the writers and publishing workers “are profoundly disappointed by the Polari prize’s decision to include John Boyne on the longlist” and states that Mr Boyne “has publicly and unequivocally associated himself with trans exclusionary sentiments”, citing a newspaper article where the ‘Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ author discusses JK Rowling’s stance and describes himself as a “fellow Terf”.
The Harry Potter author reacted to news of the demand for Mr Boyne’s cancellation from the Polari prize by saying: “Oh, fuck off. I hope everyone buys twice as many John Boyne books a) because he’s brilliant, and b) to piss off the Gender Taliban.”
For his part, John Boyne posted that he had “remained silent over the last week with regard to the @PolariPrize as I wanted to get my thoughts in order.”
In his statement he said: “I came very close to the edge this week because of endless harassment at the hands of both strangers and fellow writers.”
And he added: “I remained silent throughout but there’s been a few moments where I thought it would be easier not to go on. There’s really only so much abuse one person can take. However, I’m still here. Because I have too many books in me that I still want to write.
He also posted: “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.”
Some writers posted online supporting the campaign to have Mr Boyne removed – while those who signed the letter seeking his exclusion said that: “We want there to be a literary prize that recognises the vital importance of queer & trans stories. That’s why we’re calling on the Polari prize to formally remove Mr Boyne from the longlist, to restore the integrity of this prize”.
However, other writers disagreed, urging support for Mr Boyne – with writer Julie Bindel described the controversy as “the moral ineptitude and cowardice of the bullies targeting John Boyne”.
Journalist and writer Cathal Mac Coille said that Mr Boyne “deserves praise not this cancellation by attempted mob rule”, while author Jane Holland described those seeking Boyne’s removal from the longlist as “cancel culture fools” who she said had signed a letter demanding the removal of an “iconic gay writer” from consideration.
Author Estelle Birdy wrote: “Has anyone heard John Boyne (or anyone else for that matter) calling for the woman who pretends to be a gay man, who is on the Polari Prize longlist and is calling for John Boyne to be removed from the longlist because he believes in the reality of same sex attraction, to be removed from said longlist? Has John Boyne said that authors who hold faith based beliefs that would deny female rape victims single sex counselling and care should not be given a place on the Polari Prize longlist? It’s very easy to spot the dangerous authoritarians these days, isn’t it?”
The statement seeking to remove Mr Boyne was organised by the writers Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin and Emma van Straaten.