Sunday night, people gathered at Woodward Park in Austin for a candlelight vigil to remember those transgendered that were killed in the past year. This annual rememberance was part of a national event held every year. Austin is a place where we take tolerance for granted. We celebrate diversity. We joke at our dysfunction.

I would dare say that Austin trades on its diversity and tolerance as a city. While the dedication some have to ‘Keeping Austin Weird’ may sometimes grow tiresome, I am proud to live in a city that values tolerance over hate and diversity over conformity.