The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas author John Boyne has been denied a second literary award after he backed JK Rowling over her gender critical views.
The 54-year-old Irish author was initially offered the James Joyce Award for his novel Earth, which takes on themes of sexual assault and homophobia.
However, the prize offer was withdrawn by University College Dublin’s Literary and Historical Society amid a row over an accolade for LGBT writers known as the Polari Prize.
The James Joyce Award was put on hold after over 800 authors signed a petition against his book’s nomination after Boyne said he supported Rowling and her criticism of gender ideology.
Opposing authors described his inclusion on the list, which was released on August 6, as ‘inexcusable’ due to his public comments on trans rights and identity.
The UCD’s debating society were lambasted as ‘shocking and cowardly’ by campaign group Seen In Publishing after rescinding the prize.
They described the student body as committing ‘another example of literary cancel culture’.
Boyne shared an email from the student-run society, on Friday, where it explained they offered him the James Joyce Award because of his ability to face off with ‘uncomfortable truth with courage’ as well as his ‘authenticity’ and ‘justice’.
They then went on to add that such qualities in his work were essential for students manoeuvring their way through life, while they search for a sense of belonging and identity.
But, Mr Boyne has since been left confused by the society’s recent decision.
‘How any organisation can say [this]…and then rescind their prize when I demonstrate those very qualities is baffling,’ he said.
He explained in a post that he felt honoured to have received the initial letter from the UCD where the bestowed the highest prize a student body in Ireland can give.
However, following the Polari Prize row, he claims both messages from he and his agents went ignored by the society.
‘This morning, under threat of legal action, they finally deigned to respond, simply informing me that they were withdrawing the award,’ he said.
Expressing his disappointment, he dubbed their actions as ‘cowardice’, saying: ‘Awards are ultimately meaningless. The books matter. Readers matter.
‘And if using one’s platform to defend the rights of women, children, lesbians and gay men means that some plaque doesn’t end up on my wall… well, I won’t be losing any sleep over it.’
It is understood that the award is given from a student-run society and not the University of College Dublin itself.
Previous winners of the James Joyce Award includes, Sir Salman Rushdie, Bill Bryson, JK Rowling and Noam Chomsky.
Non-literary figures awarded for being at the pioneers in their fields include, Nancy Pelosi, Gary Lineker and Ralph Fiennes.
The award organisers said in a statement that they ‘condemn all forms of transphobia’.
They also said they would work to ‘increase representation of trans and gender non-conforming judges on panels and undertake a governance and management review.’
They also said they would look at weighing up the need to ‘provide inclusive and supportive spaces in a world hostile to our trans community’ and free speech.
The Daily Mail has approached University College Dublin and the Literary & Historical Society for comment.
