Seems a bit of a stretch to say 'There are AIDS activists because there are people who want to express sympathy for gays, to align themselves against conservatives, and thereby to express "who they are". There are AIDS activists, but there aren't any nephritis activists.'

AIDS is a preventable in many cases if people practice safe sex - something that was not commonly known and/or a taboo topic for a long time. Activists helped change that situation, saving many lives.

If there were Nephritis activists, what exactly would they be doing? What sort of public awareness would they be promoting?

And then there is this: 'There are breast cancer walks, but there aren't any colon cancer walks.' Breast cancer can be prevented by frequent tests and self-examinations. Colon cancer cannot. Breast cancer awareness helps teach woman and society that tests and examinations should be done: not doing this simply because colon cancer is more prevalent (is it though?) seems a rather idiotic utilitarian argument.