Polari Prize: Shortlisted writers for LGBTQ+ literary awards announced

The Polari Prize was first awarded last year to recognise excellence in literature that explores the LGBTQ+ experience by writers in the UK and Ireland.

Three prizes will be announced in an awards ceremony at the British Library in London on 29 November: the Polari Book Prize; the Polari First Book Prize, for debut books; and the Polari Children’s and YA Prize.

After winning the Polari First Book Prize in 2023 with his debut novel "The Whale Tattoo", Ransom now joins the six-person shortlist for the Polari Book Prize for his second novel ‘The Gallopers’.

Joelle Taylor won the 2022 Polari Prize for her collection of poems on butch subculture "C+nto & Othered Poems".

The other nominees for the Book Prize are William Hussey for "Killing Jericho", Orlando Ortega-Medina for "The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants", David Shenton for "Forty Lies", Viola Di Grado for "Blue Hunger" translated by Jamie Richards, and Paul Stephenson for "Hard Drive".

Among those nominated for the First Book Prize is English model and activist Munroe Bergdorf. Her memoir "Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition", which traces through her transition, also confronts the different ways life transitions in general.

Bergdorf is likely the most famous name of the shortlists as the first British trans model to represent L'Oréal, before she was dropped by the brand after making social media posts that were critical of white people’s role in perpetuating racism.

The other nominees for the First Book Prize are: Rachel Dawson for "Neon Roses", Joshua Jones for "Local Fires", Chloe Michelle for "Sunburn", Nicola Dinan for "Bellies", and Kostya Tsolakis for "Greekling".

On the release of the First Book Prize longlist earlier this year, Ransom said: “This is an exciting and diverse longlist, representing the very best of LGBTQ+ writing today.”

Paul Burston, founder of the Polari Prizes said: “This year’s shortlists celebrate the diversity and richness of LGBTQ literary talent in the UK and Ireland today.”

“These are books which explore sexuality, gender, history and politics with humour, passion and insight. They remind us of the power of queer storytelling at a time when some would see our books and stories banned. Read them with pride,” Burston added.

Shortlisted for the Children’s and YA Prize are five books, all exploring LGBTQ+ themes for readers of a younger generation. One of the most charming examples is Robert Tregoning’s "Out of the Blue" illustrated by Stef Murphy.

Tregoning’s story features a young boy who lives in a world where only the colour blue is allowed but he harbours a secret love for the colour yellow.

Joining Tregoning are nominees Kat Dunn for "Bitterthorn", Sarah Hagger-Holt for "The Fights That Make Us", Lex Croucher for "Gwen and Art are not in Love" and Sophie Cameron for "Award with Words".

The Polari Prizes are some of the only LGBTQ+ focused literary awards in the world. In their second year, they are a UK and Ireland equivalent to the well-established Lambda Literary Awards in the US.

Instituted in 1989, the Lambda Awards – or Lammys – annually hands out awards across 24 categories across Gay, Lesbian and Transgender categories, as well as distinct categories for mediums such as comics and poetry.

Alongside Lambda, there is also the Golden Crown Literary Society which has awarded literary prizes to writers who explore sapphic themes since 2004.

Across Europe, there are fewer notable LGBTQ+ focused literary prizes. The Prix République du Glamour, an annually awarded prize for the best lesbian novel given by the French arm of Glamour magazine, is a notable exception.