Anjali Gopalan is the founder and Executive Director of the Naz Foundation (India) Trust. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Anjali studied in both India and the US, and has a degree in political science, a postgraduate diploma in Journalism, and a masters in international development.
Her work on issues related to HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities began in the United States. On returning to India in the early 1990s she was frustrated by the lack of response, even from the civil society, to the burgeoning HIV epidemic. Her response was to launch Naz India and focus on communities stigmatised by society. Since then, Anjali has spoken at numerous international venues about the importance of advancing research to aid HIV prevention, and providing quality care to those living with HIV infection. Today, Anjali continues to push the boundaries in the field of HIV/AIDS, and helps Naz persist with this important work.
As a strong advocate of the sexual health and rights of the LGBT community, Anjali spearheaded the eight years-long legal battle against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. In 2001, her organization filed a Public Interest Litigation to decriminalize homosexuality, and put an end to the archaic law under which individuals were harassed and discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. The Delhi High Court ruled in favour of Naz India in 2009, and declared Section 377 an infringement on individual rights. This groundbreaking ruling was a great leap towards an accepting and discrimination-free society.
Driven by her passion and love for animals, Anjali has also established an animal sanctuary ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ (ACGS) at Silakhari, Haryana. Currently she is a board member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
Her work on issues related to HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities began in the United States. On returning to India in the early 1990s she was frustrated by the lack of response, even from the civil society, to the burgeoning HIV epidemic. Her response was to launch Naz India and focus on communities stigmatised by society. Since then, Anjali has spoken at numerous international venues about the importance of advancing research to aid HIV prevention, and providing quality care to those living with HIV infection. Today, Anjali continues to push the boundaries in the field of HIV/AIDS, and helps Naz persist with this important work.
As a strong advocate of the sexual health and rights of the LGBT community, Anjali spearheaded the eight years-long legal battle against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. In 2001, her organization filed a Public Interest Litigation to decriminalize homosexuality, and put an end to the archaic law under which individuals were harassed and discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. The Delhi High Court ruled in favour of Naz India in 2009, and declared Section 377 an infringement on individual rights. This groundbreaking ruling was a great leap towards an accepting and discrimination-free society.
Driven by her passion and love for animals, Anjali has also established an animal sanctuary ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ (ACGS) at Silakhari, Haryana. Currently she is a board member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
Dr Pragati Singh is a health professional, researcher, social entrepreneur, and an internationally-renowned sexual and reproductive health and rights changemaker. She is known for her unique initiatives in niche fields such as Indian Aces, India’s first initiative towards asexuality; HumansOfQueer.com, a platform for LGBT+ people’s stories; PanACEa, Asexuality Asia Conference, PLatonicity.co, a matchmaking service for nonsexual alliances, and more.
She has been recognized globally, and was featured in the BBC's list of 100 most inspiring, innovative and influential women from around the world in 2019. Her works have been published internationally, and she is now working on her first book, ‘Asexual Lives’.
She has been recognized globally, and was featured in the BBC's list of 100 most inspiring, innovative and influential women from around the world in 2019. Her works have been published internationally, and she is now working on her first book, ‘Asexual Lives’.
Sunil Menon is an LGBTQ rights activist who now divides his time between Chennai and Kerala. He founded Sahodaran in Chennai in 1998 as an MSM (men who have sex with men) sexual health project with DFID, Glasgow funding. The CBO was registered in 2002 as an independent organisation.
In 1993, he started the first-ever targeted intervention amongst MSM in Chennai. Sunil has served on the community advisory board for YRG-Care, and is also a resource person and consultant on MSM and transgender issues for Naz Foundation International, UK; ICMR India, among others. He has travelled extensively, presented papers at international AIDS conferences, and delivered guest lectures at the universities of Berkeley and Brown in the US.
In 1993, he started the first-ever targeted intervention amongst MSM in Chennai. Sunil has served on the community advisory board for YRG-Care, and is also a resource person and consultant on MSM and transgender issues for Naz Foundation International, UK; ICMR India, among others. He has travelled extensively, presented papers at international AIDS conferences, and delivered guest lectures at the universities of Berkeley and Brown in the US.
One of India's first transgender doctors, Aqsa Shaikh is an associate professor of community medicine, and the nodal officer for the Covid-19 vaccination centre at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi.
Aqsa is an academician and researcher. She is part of the iHEAR initiative at Sangath India, which undertakes research and project implementation for the inclusion of transgender and disabled communities in the healthcare sector. The founder-director of Human Solidarity Foundation, Aqsa is a vocal advocate for rights-based gender justice for transgenders, persons with disability and those affected by mental illnesses. She speaks, writes and advocates for trans rights in India and across the globe.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Aqsa Shaikh completed her education from Seth GS Medical College. A proud transgender woman, she holds a keen interest in medical ethics, medical humanities, and medical education technology.
Dr Aqsa successfully petitioned the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights to pass orders on banning unnecessary sex normalizing surgeries on intersex children. She was responsible for making toilet signages inclusive at Delhi metro stations. She also serves as Section Editor of PLOS Global Public Health and Indian Journal of Medical Ethics.
Aqsa is an academician and researcher. She is part of the iHEAR initiative at Sangath India, which undertakes research and project implementation for the inclusion of transgender and disabled communities in the healthcare sector. The founder-director of Human Solidarity Foundation, Aqsa is a vocal advocate for rights-based gender justice for transgenders, persons with disability and those affected by mental illnesses. She speaks, writes and advocates for trans rights in India and across the globe.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Aqsa Shaikh completed her education from Seth GS Medical College. A proud transgender woman, she holds a keen interest in medical ethics, medical humanities, and medical education technology.
Dr Aqsa successfully petitioned the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights to pass orders on banning unnecessary sex normalizing surgeries on intersex children. She was responsible for making toilet signages inclusive at Delhi metro stations. She also serves as Section Editor of PLOS Global Public Health and Indian Journal of Medical Ethics.