Ms Gopalan is a human and animal rights activist. In 1994, she became the founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust. The NGO has been working dedicatedly to fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic that plagues the nation with a focus on women, and children as well as issues of sexual rights. She was on Times list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. 

​

As an advocate for sexual health and rights of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community, she is known for spearheading the battle against the draconian Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. This led to an achievement in 2018 with the Navtej Johar and ors. vs The Union of India where homosexuality was decriminalised again in India. 

​

She continues to work for communities stigmatised by the society, and runs an animal shelter All Creatures Great and Small for distraught animals.