[3] He earned a degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1979 and has attended classes at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.
"[4] In February 2001, Lawless gained nationwide media attention when he began an effort to withhold state funding for Penn State University because of "Sex Faire," a student event featuring information on cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and safe sex practices that he labeled "classless acts of debauchery.
[5] Lawless and a video crew attended the event, where he filmed tables with literature he labeled pornographic and "gingerbread men and women with artful icing.
"[7] During the university's annual budget hearing, Lawless and several other legislators grilled Penn State President Graham Spanier on the event.
[7] In the 2001 redistricting negotiations, House Republican leaders "eviscerated" Lawless' district, splitting it three ways in the 2002 Pennsylvania reapportionment plan.
[13] In September 2002, Lawless caused a controversy when he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation by a Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania police officer.
[19][20] He currently is employed as the Corporate Secretary for the Delaware River Port Authority, although he was escorted by officials from the office in April 2010 because of an undisclosed disability he still collects a six-figure salary for an unknown reason.