Editing Graham Chapman (section)

== Personal life ==
[[File:Graham Chapman's house in Highgate.jpg|thumb|left|Chapman lived in this house in [[Highgate]] with his partner David Sherlock during the 1970s.]]
Chapman first met his long-term partner David Sherlock in [[Ibiza]] in 1966.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=60}} He later described realising he was homosexual as "an important moment in my life".{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=64}}<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news |last1=Levy |first1=Ken |title=Graham Chapman: an unlikely friendship with a Monty Python star |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jul/01/graham-chapman-monty-python-star-and-me |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=1 July 2014 |access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="oip">{{cite web |title=On This Gay Day: 'Monty Python' actor Graham Chapman was born |url=https://www.outinperth.com/on-this-gay-day-monty-python-actor-graham-chapman-was-born/ |website=Out in Perth |date=7 January 2024 |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref>

The following year, he told his close friends, including Cleese and Feldman, about his relationship.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=73}} Chapman and Sherlock moved to [[Belsize Park]] in 1968,{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=84}} and the pair enjoyed visiting gay clubs in Central London.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=85}} In the early 1970s, after Chapman had found fame with Monty Python, they moved to a house in [[Highgate]], North London.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=124}}

In 1972, on a television show hosted by English jazz and blues singer [[George Melly]], Chapman first disclosed his homosexuality publicly, becoming one of the first celebrities to do so.<ref>{{cite news |title=OPINION: Don't Take It The Wrong Way: Homosexuality in Comedy |url=http://www.thegayuk.com/opinion-dont-take-it-the-wrong-way-homosexuality-in-comedy/ |access-date=10 April 2017 |work=The Gay UK |date=13 October 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Chapman|Yoakum|2006|p=18}} He was a vocal spokesman for gay rights, supporting the [[Gay Liberation Front]].{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=111}} In 1972, Chapman supported the newspaper ''[[Gay News]]'', which listed him as one of the publication's "special friends" in recognition.{{sfn|McCall|2013|p=26}} During a college tour, Chapman mentioned that a television audience member had written to the Pythons to complain about them having a gay member, citing a Bible passage that said any man who lies with a man should be taken out and [[stoning|stoned]]. Idle replied jokingly that they had found the perpetrator and killed him.{{sfn|Perry|2007|p=107}}

In 1971, Chapman and Sherlock [[gay adoption|adopted]] John Tomiczek as their son. Chapman met Tomiczek when Tomiczek was a 14-year-old run-away from Liverpool. After discussions with Tomiczek's father, it was agreed that Chapman would become Tomiczek's legal guardian.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|pp=128, 130}} Both Sherlock and Tomiczek remained a constant presence in Chapman's life.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=246}} During the 1970s, Chapman became increasingly concerned about the Pythons' income and finances. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to avoid British [[income tax]].{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=200}} In the mid-1980s, he returned to the UK and moved to [[Maidstone]], Kent, with Sherlock and Tomiczek.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=246}} Tomiczek later became Chapman's business manager; he died of a heart attack in 1992 at age 35.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ken |last=Levy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jul/01/graham-chapman-monty-python-star-and-me |title=Graham Chapman: an unlikely friendship with a Monty Python star |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=1 July 2014 |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

Chapman took up [[pipe smoking]] aged 15, which became a lifelong habit.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=16}} He began drinking heavily during his time at Cambridge and St. Bartholomew's, favouring [[gin]]. He was an alcoholic from his time at Cambridge until he quit drinking shortly before working on ''Life of Brian''.<ref name="vulture">{{cite web |last1=Ess |first1=Ramsey |title=Dick Cavett's Semi-Serious Talk with Graham Chapman |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/09/dick-cavetts-semi-serious-talk-with-graham-chapman.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=20 September 2013 |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref> By the time Monty Python went out on tour in 1973, Chapman's drinking had begun to affect his performance, causing him to miss cues to go on stage, and was known to suffer from [[delirium tremens]] (DTs).{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=163}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/he-was-always-coming-out-terry-jones-recalls-fellow-python-graham-chapman-jx9z556w2xh |title="He was always 'coming out'": Terry Jones recalls fellow Python Graham Chapman |last=Jones |first=Terry |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=4 February 2013|
access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> He stopped drinking during Christmas 1977, concerned about being able to act in ''Life of Brian'' successfully, and remained sober for the rest of his life.{{sfn|McCabe|2005|p=201}}