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Laguna man finds healing on World AIDS Day

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For Terrell Washington-Anansi, Friday’s candlelight vigil in Laguna Beach to honor people who have died of AIDS was therapeutic.

“It’s very healing for me to be here,” said Washington-Anansi, a Laguna resident who joined 50 attendees on Main Beach to recognize World AIDS Day. “I got to let go of some of the grief.”

Washington-Anansi, 68, said he has lost multiple friends to AIDS through the years, including one acquaintance whose name he had not spoken in 20 years until Friday night.

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Washington-Anansi said the city’s HIV Advisory Committee, which organized the annual ceremony, asked him if he wanted to lead the crowd in a rendition of “Broken Hallelujah.”

Washington-Anansi, a member of Laguna’s Neighborhood Congregational Church, said he has performed the song before and did not hesitate in accepting the invitation.

“I loved the idea,” he said. Washington-Anansi, with hands cupped around a tea light and a piece of paper with lyrics, led attendees through the song, getting them to repeat the refrain, “Hallelujah.”

Attendees stood in a circle while holding tea lights and portions of a long piece of string that had paper hearts attached to it.

The hearts had names of people who died of AIDS, a disease that weakens people’s immune systems.

HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T-cells), which help fight off infections, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

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Experts identified the virus in 1984. Since that time more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, according to the World AIDS Day website.

Attendees alternated speaking names of friends or family members felled by AIDS. Some people placed hands on neighbors’ shoulders.

“Take them inside every breath and know they are with us,” B.J. Beu, the event’s officiant, said. “Be blessed by a spirit of hope, peace, encouragement and strength.”

Seconds after Beu’s message, a dog mildly yelped, eliciting chuckles among attendees.

There were 36.7 million people worldwide living with HIV at the end of 2016, according to the World Health Organization. As of last July, 20.9 million people with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy.

World AIDS Day takes place on Dec. 1 every year.

James Bunn and Thomas Netter co-founded World AIDS Day, which began in 1988 when the two men were public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS, according to National Public Radio.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

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Twitter: @AldertonBryce

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