Seven Graham: Person of the Week

Seven Graham is an addiction and recovery professional specializing in LGBTQIA+ care, with a focus on trans and intersex clients. Drawing on lived experience and clinical training, he blends evidence-based practice with creative approaches, helping clients transform trauma, build resilience, and sustain meaningful recovery through authentic self-expression and holistic support.

https://linktr.ee/SevenGraham

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. At the end I would take anything, classic poly drug user,  including Dr’s drugs.

The first drug I felt powerless over and LOVED was a stimulant. Uppers and booze were my yin/yang.

Sober since 12.12.01. ODAT.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. I see 12-Step recovery fellowships as the bread and butter that give me daily sustenance.

When I rock bottomed in 2001, I was a creative worker: TV director at the BBC, in Entertainment.

I became a qualified addictions therapist in 2005 and worked in the private and public sector- the National Health Service in UK, inner city youth through non-profit In-volve and Priory Healthcare.

In my own recovery I’ve always been privileged to work an holistic programme, that contains many healing modalities — both Western and other medicine systems — talking and body work; as well as spiritual practice and more woo-woo things.

Since 2015, when my annual recovery challenge was Stand-up Comedy Course (the only thing I could find more Feel the Fear…than 2014’s skydiving), I’ve been working creatively on healing trauma: through stand-up comedy, writing and acting.

Writing my play Angels are Intersex and performing it in front of audiences was one of the most healing things, ever.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I know that it’s a family illness — both sides of mine — that manifests in a whole plethora of ways.

I am comfortable saying it’s both a disease and an illness, which affects body, mind and soul.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I grew up near Stonehenge, in Wiltshire England and ran away to London when I was 17.

Lived and worked in London most of my adult life, before moving to the Surrey Hills for 15 years before moving to LA in December 2015.

I became a USA citizen on Election Day, 2024. God has a sense of humour.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Alchemy.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

A. I was in and out of the rooms from 1997-2001, doing the 30 days, 60 days, dance.

For years I was a high functioning binge addict — work addictively all week, party all weekend, and repeat.

2001 my father’s cancer returned, and it was aggressive and fast. I’m grateful I was able to see him sober those last times, but I picked up after his funeral and became the 24/7 addict who had 0 control, was suicidal and was very lucky to fall into rehab (for what became 9 months of residential treatment).

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I’m going to split my time between doing stand-up, as a no f’s Elder in a big city; and being a sex therapist living in Point Dume, Malibu.

I’d love a mountain cabin too.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. The amount I can contribute to people’s well-being and happiness and raising awareness about intersex and trans people in Hollywood — so our stories get told and we are seen as valuable members of society.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. LA drivers not stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks. “Bless them, change me” as my sponsor says.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. Unhoused LGBTQiA youth who need a safe place to live and mental health support.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My father. The artist, improv performer, and fashion-forward individual who gave me many gifts, including great teeth and laughing at the patriarchy.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Hang-in there, kid, it will get better. Don’t take overdoses, stomach pumping is an awful experience. Don’t let anyone else tell you who you are. You know. God/dess/ex the word’s irrelevant. Your HP has a divine plan and won’t abandon you.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. My great-grandmother, Nan, she let me be my boy self — when everyone else tried to say I was a girl. She bought me boy toys and always loved me for me.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. So difficult to answer. I can answer this in categories.

Dead person is easier — Oscar Wilde and Maya Angelou (who I was lucky enough to work with, her energy was incredible).

Hannah Gadsby is an incredible person. Their comedy special Nanette is powerful and very healing.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. Answered already, my father’s death.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. That it’s a never-ending journey of learning, healing and opportunities to be of service.

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

A. The Group / group work.

I grew so much by listening and identifying in so many groups and meetings.

When I went into rehab only two other people in world knew I’m intersex. Being told I needed to put this in my Life Story and read it to the group was terrifying. 

Nobody has ever rejected me or been meaner to me for being born between the common Sexes.

The group and *nearly all humans have been very kind to me, when I tell my story.

* social media haters and transphobic people aside.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. Bigger than me. Loving. Kind. Accepting. Very funny sense of humor.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Aries.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Robert Downey, Jr.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. Big Book. Never gets old.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Too many. I read books depending on my mood and how long I have.

Off the top of my pile: Judd Apatow, Comedy Nerd and Brené Brown, Daring Greatly.

I listen to most of my books, I’m an Audible 17 badges holder.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Oscar Wilde, Bill W, Maya Angelou.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Star Wars.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Derek Jarman (a dearly departed friend and Creative Mentor).

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. The last show I really binge-watched was Pennyworth, which I didn’t expect to like but was very amusing, well written and great female characters.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Based on time spent, Instagram. I need to “Brick” block social media more consistently.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Based on Talent and shows I’ve seen live, Michael Jackson.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. ER teams, I would last one hour. Most of that I’d be passed out on the floor.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. ABBA anthems- Dancing Queen being a classic.
David Bowie, Heroes.
Bob Marley, Get Up, Stand Up.
John Lennon, Imagine.
Tracy Chapman, Talkin’ About A Revolution.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. London.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Indian.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

A. This is one of the hardest interviews I have ever done…

People, Places and Things at the National Theater, London, with Denise Gough.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. a spare bag.
a bike/skateboard tool.
condom.
AirPods.
Cliff Bar.

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Be Free to Be.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Sobriety is worth it. No matter how hard the first 5 years are.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Truth and kindness.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Recovery #1.

Putting intersex on the global radar through Executive producing the world’s first intersex movie (Ponyboi, the short).

Getting the intersex inclusive flag flown in West Hollywood and helping the City value the “i” in LGBTQiA+.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. A genuine from the heart one.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. Inwards.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

A. Healing.

Q. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

A. A sober day. Today.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. This would need breaking down into at least 5 categories.

Q. Which living person do you most despise?

A. Donald Trump.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. To own my power more and that I look handsome with a beard.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Gene editing CRISPR tech and the good that can come from Article of Interest .

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. I am a kind person, and very resilient.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance?

A. Organic food.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. Still working on it. I started my transitioning journey in 2018 with testosterone shots. I had a

second puberty and now I’m growing into the man I am.

Q. How important are your pets to you?

A. My beagle, Scotty is the reason I was able to survive moving to USA and my illness pre-transition (my body rejected the estrogen Drs put me on after stealing my testes when I was 8), and recovery from surgeries to be myself.

You might want to go to my Linktree to make sense of this.

https://linktr.ee/SevenGraham

Q. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A. Lovely. Brilliant. Bollocks.