Ok I'm going to get soppy here so if you don't like soppy just move on to the next post.

The people on this Appreciation Thread know that Luke stands on his own as a winner because he's a nice, kind, funny, genuine bloke who deserves to win. On the other hand, there are a lot of people on the main forum who say - you only want Luke A to win because he's transgender and you feel sorry for him.

From my own point of view, it was completely the other way round. I became interested in the transgender issue because I liked Luke, the man I saw in the Big Brother house. Every now and then in life someone comes along who knocks your view of the world sideways. There are some people who do it to the whole world, like Gandhi or Martin Luther King but we all have our own personal moments when you get to know someone who changes your view so you'll never look at the world the same way again and that's what Luke A has done for me. I know that I'll never see or hear about a transgender person without thinking of Luke. He's made me seriously think about how difficult it must be to feel you were born in the wrong body, I've looked into the issue of how the treatment is carried out, I've read about the story of going back to work too early and bursting the stitches, I've thought about how the community in which I live would deal with a transgender person and I know they would make life almost unbearable.

I'm not the kind of person who joins facebook groups to support housemates and I like to keep my personal facebook and my Noisy Oyster DS persona separate but I'd be grateful if someone could tell Luke's facebook support group and family that if he thought it was worth going on Big Brother provided one person's view of the transgender community was changed then he has succeeded. I'm not saying I'm the type of person who would shout abuse in the street, of course I'm not (unlike some people in the place I live) but I will look at the issue differently from now on. My world has been knocked off its axis a bit and I'm very, very grateful to Luke for that.

Amazing post. He too has opened my eyes. I knew nothing about it, now I am both fascinated and totally understanding, of what he has gone through. I do not join in fb, but this year, I joined Luke A twitter. I am glad I did, his wife and family are totally amazing. I have never seen one bad word they have said about another HM. All they do is thank those who support Luke A. An amazing family, an amazing HM.

Despite what happens in the final, I really hope Luke A is able to fulfil his dreams and complete the transformation. I personally would like to see what happens to him afterwards (would love for him to be in some sort of show afterwards). His is an inspiring story, and one I would like to know the ending too.

As little as I knew about transgender, I am so glad that Luke A was on BB, it has really opened my eyes, and my heart to what he has had to go through.

Brilliant post. I agree. On launch night Caroline and Scott were my favourites because I thought they would be self depreciating and I thought I'd be able to relate to them,the most but my interest dwindled after a couple of HLS and Luke quickly captured my attention. I certainly didn't like him because he was transgender, I liked him because of his personality and my interest in trangender issues was ignited because I liked Luke as a person.

Btw would you like me to quote your post on the facebook group?

Yes, of course. Thank you

I've posted it .

Lovely post Noisy Oyster. I am truly thankful that Luke has managed to make so many people aware of transgender issues. It is a subject which is very dear to my heart because of having a transgendered son myself.

From the second he said he was born female he had my support, and the more we have got to know him, the stronger my support has become. Og course if he had turned out to be spiteful, aggressive, arrogant or just downright nasty then he would have lost my support but he has been absolute delight to watch.

This, for me, has been a very special BB because of Luke and also his fans on here. I will miss tuning into BB and watching him interact with Adam and Deana, or seeing his lovely smile, and laughing at his one liners. I am normally glad when BB is over as I can reclaim my life (ie. tackling the dusting, hoovering, ironing etc) but I will feel a little sad when this one finishes tomorrow evening. That will be tempered somewhat if Luke finishes first. Lets keep our fingers crossed that he is triumphant.

I will watch CBB but am not feeling particularly enthusiastic about it at the moment.

Aww, big hugs to our Noisy Oyster! What a beautiful summary of what Luke's meant to you and I'm sure we've all had our eyes opened in similar ways, to a greater or lesser degree.

Obviously it's totally up to you what you do with your Facebook but you'd love it in Luke's group. It's just as friendly and chatty as this AT. Luke's mum and brother are always in there and they've accepted us like old friends.

This sense of community is something new over the past couple of years as FB and Twitter have taken off and it seems to have changed BB housemates from celebrities into friends we just haven't personally met yet. Once he's out of the house he'll be posting on his Twitter and FB group himself and that'll be a nice chance to ask questions and get to know him ourselves.

What a lovely post and I agree wholeheartedly Luke has absolutely done himself proud throughout his time in the house, and his goal of spreading awareness about what it is like to be transgender has undoubtedly been achieved. I'm positive that his wife and his family are ecstatic with his progress in there.

It's quite saddening that it'll all be over tomorrow night. I've immensely enjoyed watching Luke in the house, most especially his relationship with Adam. I think theirs was one of the only true friendships in there, and I'm sure they'll remain friends long into the future.

It's been a pleasure watching Luke - what a true inspiration he is!

You're right. The strong friendship with Adam, the way he treats Deana like the lady she is, the fact that he was upset for Lauren when he beat her in the eviction (and for Adam that he'd lost her)*, the way he tried to apologise to Becky for the BMI comment, the shock at being accused of being sneaky and sly (when he's probably the least sneaky and sly person in there with the possible exception of Adam) and now the silly sense of humour now the pressure is off (that's your boobs but it made me feel better, done to make Deana laugh and feel better too) have all added up to make Luke my winner whatever happens. His parents, brother and his wife should be very proud.

*Can you imagine any of the outsiders being anything but gleeful even if they'd beaten one of their friends in a head-to-head eviction?

Thank you. I'll be delighted to pop into this AT to keep up-to-date with what's going on

Noisy Oyster - your post has received 12 likes a few comments

Oh, that's lovely

The Final Five.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fInakLVp1o0&feature=plcp

Benedict is still supporting Luke and Adam

Through Luke, I have realised that it just does not affect the person, but the whole family. It was a subject I had plainly not even thought about before, or indeed the implications with friends and family. It affects everybody.
I feel I have been on this journey with him in BB, he has inspired me so much, the courage he has, I will also miss seeing him. I do hope he wins, so very much.

There are even more:

Lovely video.


Will Benedit be there tomorrow?

Yes he said that he will be attending .

That is just lovely hula, brilliant post Noisy Oyster, made me

Am off to watch Olympic closing ceremony. I am taping BB, so hopefully willl see you guys later. Keep voting.

Wow, thanks.

I loved the show tonight, and Luke had a great edit (apart from the m**** sandwich comment ).

It was a bit poignant when the lights went out at the end.

I can't wait watch it on catch up, I'm watching the closing ceremony at the moment. What was his minge sandwich comment about?

Please keep voting everyone.

Adam and Luke A were doing a spoof interview in the garden and Adam asked him if there was anything Luke would like to say to his haters. And Luke reply'd yes I hope they like the taste of my minge sandwich.