SOME see sexuality and gender as a choice.

But for 15-year-old Andover resident Luke Cooke, the only choice was the one made by his body - and it was never the right one.

“I guess I’ve always known. I’ve always felt trapped in the wrong body.” says Luke, born Jess.

“Even as a young kid I never liked wearing dresses. I’d be the one with my top off climbing and falling out of trees.”

Sitting beside him, mum Tracey lets out a smile and a laugh.

“I’ve always known,” the 48-yearold chuckles.

There is an air of relaxation between the two.

Their relationship is a complicated one - not quite mother-son, but equally not quite mother-daughter.

Both are still learning the ropes.

Yet the pair says it’s the strongest their relationship has ever been.

Luke said: “Before I told my mum (about being transgender) I was always angry and frustrated.

“When I was at school I was constantly losing my temper and I would refuse to do anything.”

“You were horrible at home too,”

adds Tracey.

“I was horrible to everyone,” Luke replies, looking sheepishly towards the ground.

“I just didn’t know how to tell people.

“I used to keep it bottled up.”

Luke, then Jess, initially “outed”

himself as a lesbian a day before his 13th birthday.

The news was no surprise to Tracey, who had always regarded her daughter as “more than just a tomboy”.

But it took another two years before Luke felt strong enough to tell his mum that he was transgender.

“It was a relief,” Luke says with a smile.

“I felt like I could be myself and I could be the person I wanted to be.”

Looking towards Tracey, he says: “I didn’t know how my mum would react.

“It was harder to tell my mum than it was to tell my friends.

“But she just said she would always accept me for who I was.”

Luke has not just benefitted from the help of a supportive mum.

The mechanical apprentice, at Andover College, has also had the support of friends and even teachers too.

“Everyone has been amazing.

“My friends at school have all been really supportive.

“Even my teachers make an effort to call me Luke now, which is really nice.”

But what about the community of Andover? Has it been a supportive place to grow up transgender?

Living in a cosmopolitan city, with a large LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, gives the opportunity to delve into a large network of support groups.

According to Luke, Andover has no formal LGBT group - although a small Facebook page is currently in operation.

This, however, hasn’t stopped the community from being accepting, says Luke.

“I’ve never been bullied or anything like that.

“I get a few strange looks but I just ignore it - my friends accept me for who I am and that’s what’s important.

“There is no formal LGBT group in Andover yet, but I have heard someone is trying to set one up.

“It would be good to have some where where you can go and talk to people - I usually go to The Junction and they’ve been great.”

So what does Luke’s bright future look like?

The 15-year-old hopes to become a fully qualified mechanic and eventually hopes to undergo a sex change operation to become male.

According to Luke, who has already fully researched the process, it isn’t straightforward.

The NHS has guidelines for young people who have “gender dysphoria”, with most work revolving around therapy.

Once Luke turns 17, he can begin taking steps towards more permanent hormone or surgical treatments to alter his body to fit with his gender.

The NHS says that once a social gender role transition is completed, and a care team feels that a person is ready, they can decide to have surgery to permanently alter their sex.

For Luke, this might not happen for a number of years.

However, when it does, the 15-yearold expects it will alleviate his current anxieties.

“I would feel much happier and more relieved.

“I would feel comfortable and could be who I want to be.

“I’m really excited about it.”