ONE OF CITYBOOK'S ‘Cool 100’ has been named to another top 100 list!

The Montrose Center CEO Avery Belyeu has made Out magazine’s OUT100 list for 2024. She is being lauded for her work at The Montrose Center, where she is the first openly transgender CEO of a large LGBTQ+ center in the United States.

Belyeu was raised in a strict Jehovah’s Witness household, and overcame familial struggles to become an advocate for the community. CityBook and Out praised her time spent at Lambda Legal in New York and the Los Angeles’ Trevor Project before moving to Houston for the new gig this year. She recently oversaw the Montrose Center gala, which raised a record-breaking $400,000.

“Avery is a rock star and deserves this honor,” said Gary Wood, president of board of directors. “We knew she was special when we asked her to lead the Center, and she is already exceeding our expectations in elevating the Center’s regional impact and national profile.”

Belyeu joins Tom Daley, Jodie Foster and cover star Cynthia Erivo on this year’s OUT100 list. “I am honored to be included in this year’s OUT100 list along with so many other incredible pillars of our community,” she said. “I am humbled by this recognition and excited that this will spotlight the remarkable work we are doing at the Montrose Center.”