Understand the LGBTQIA+ news: Once respected Polari Prize faces widespread condemnation for standing by self-proclaimed 'TERF'

This week's QueerAF is made possible by Editor tier member Jacqui Taylor.

She is a writer and Trans+ ally inspired by her children and the joy of living, and writes about finding grace through life’s challenges. Based in Yorkshire, she is working on a book exploring how the fear of difference hurts us all. She's been supporting QueerAF for over a year and is one of our most engaged readers. This week, we're excited to share some of the campaigning work she's been doing in a first-person piece.

"I'm supporting QueerAF because I want to support high quality reporting on queer media and help queer creatives have a platform for their voices."
- Jacqui Taylor

Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. The QueerAF newsletter is written by Jamie Wareham, and a different queer creative each week.

💬 This week:

• Polari Prize: trapped itselfwith the vast majority of authors saying they'll pull out if inclusion of a self proclaimed 'TERF' continues. We explore.
• 200 Days: As Trump marks another milestone, we look at the slide into authoritarianism in the US, including the recent pivot towards calling for gay people to be criminalised again.
• Engaging with MPs: Jacqui Taylor, this week's honorary editor, has been engaging with MPs to deliver them supportive narratives towards the Trans+ community. This week she writes on the "small but compounding effects" of collective action she's witnessed.

Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.

Polari Prize stands by inclusion of self-proclaimed 'TERF' author, as majority of authors withdraw

TL;DR: 16 of 25 authors have now withdrawn from the once respected LGBTQ book prize amid the inclusion of John Boyne, a self-proclaimed 'TERF' who has shared gender-critical rhetoric, and is a supporter of JK Rowling.