Like many lesbian couples, Liza and Avi moved in together fast; they do each other’s makeup before dates, surprised each other with rings in a double proposal and are marching this year at Tel Aviv Pride with Liza’s mother for the first timeHagai Ayed|“I married my best friend. When we get ready for a date, we both wear skirts and do each other’s makeup. It’s the most fun thing in the world,” says Israeli Premier League volleyball player Liza, or Elizabeth, Rotman, 29, describing her relationship with Avital Rotman, 35.“Sometimes people don’t believe we’re a couple. They ask if we’re sisters, even though I don’t think we look alike at all. But the chemistry between us is so obvious that it’s the only thing they can think of.”4 View gallery Avi (right) and Liza Rotman. Each brought a dog from a previous relationship (Photo: Coral Tuvi)They have been together for four years and married for one. “We celebrated our first wedding anniversary last month, on May 5,” Avital says, then clarifies: “Elizabeth and Avital are our official names at the Interior Ministry, but everyone, everyone calls us Liza and Avi.”So, Liza and Avi. How and where did you meet?
Liza says each of them has a slightly different version of the story. “I knew who Avi was before we met. She didn’t know who I was, and I knew she had broken up with someone and was single again. Then she followed me on Instagram, which was very suspicious, so I sent her a message. In my view, the fact that she followed me means she was hitting on me, but she says it was an innocent follow. I don’t know. I don’t believe her.”Avi sees it differently. “Wait, look, there’s a six-year age gap between Liza and me. In my generation, there’s no such thing as, ‘He followed me, so he’s hitting on me.’ Instagram suggests people to me, so I follow them. Straight or LGBT, it doesn’t matter. I had just become single again and wanted to expand my social circle.”Liza says they began messaging and met that same evening.“How lesbian of us,” she says. “We met at a bar in Florentin and sat there until they closed the place. After four months, we had already decided to move in together. Each of us came with a dog from a previous marriage.”When did you decide to get married? Was there a proposal?
