Lawrence Rothman: Difference between revisions

Rothman was born and raised in a middle class area of St. Louis, Missouri. They are Jewish.<ref name="Mandel">{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Rothman has nine alter egos and says David Lynch saved their life |last=Mandel |first=Leah |work=The FADER |date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2020 |url= https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/13/lawrence-rothman-the-book-of-law-album-stream-interview }}</ref> From a young age, they identified as [[genderfluid]], wearing makeup and presenting in an [[androgynous]] style.<ref name="Geffen">{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Rothman on Being Gender Fluid: “Why Do You Have to Check a Box That’s Male or Female?” |last=Geffen |first=Sasha |work=Pitchfork |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=31 May 2020 |url= https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/lawrence-rothman-on-being-gender-fluid-why-do-you-have-to-check-a-box-thats-male-or-female/}}</ref> Rothman's mother was accepting, but their father pressured them into growing a beard and acting more [[masculinity|masculine]], which left them depressed and suicidal. Rothman was homeschooled until the fourth grade and was bullied after entering the public school system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lawrence-rothman-20171101-story.html|title=Lawrence Rothman's genre-hopping 'The Book of Law' explores many personalities|author=August Brown|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 1, 2017|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>

From the age of 13, Rothman formed a number of punk rock, alternative rock and hip-hop bands, and toured throughout the United States. At 17, they left home and moved to Chicago with no support from their parents. Living with a cousin, Rothman encountered artists and musicians who helped them come to terms with their nonbinary identity. From 2002 to 2011, Rothman fronted the punk rock band Living Things under the name Lillian Berlin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Duncan |title=Watch Lawrence Rothman's Heartbreaking "Ain't Afraid Of Dying" |url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/08/16/lawrence-rothman-aint-afraid-of-dying-video |publisher=Fader |accessdate=23 April 2019 |date=16 August 2017}}</ref> After moving to Los Angeles, Rothman began writing music under their own name.