About Davina Kotulski

Davina Kotulski, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage, has deep roots in the freedom to marry movement from fighting California’s anti-gay marriage ballot initiative, to her leadership with Californians for Same Sex Marriage, Marriage Equality California, the Freedom to Marry Coalition and now as the Executive Director of Marriage Equality USA.

Kotulski has spent eight years teaching marriage and family counseling to psychology and divinity students, yet ironically, Kotulski and her wife of almost nine years are excluded from the civil institution of marriage.

In October 2004, Kotulski organized the “Marriage Equality Express” from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., culminating in the first national rally in support of marriage equality. Time and Parade magazines included the rally when citing the importance of marriage equality activism as one of the top 10 issues of 2004.

Kotulski and her wife, Molly McKay, were the 17th couple married in San Francisco and have appeared together on CNN, Newsweek, Time and USA Today. They are featured in two documentaries: “Freedom to Marry” and “Pursuit of Equality,” and several television shows including “American Quest,” documenting the National Marriage Equality Express and “I Will, I Do, We Did” following the San Francisco marriages that took place in 2004. Kotulski’s written work is also featured in “I do/I don’t.”

In 2004, Kotulski received the “Saints Alive” Award from the San Francisco Metropolitan Community Church and was “sainted” by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for her activism and advocacy on behalf of full marriage equality for all couples.

When not engaged in political activism and public speaking on marriage equality, Kotulski enjoys Vipassana Meditation, creative writing, and participating in and leading self-development workshops.