Round Rock's Barbette, a 1920s Paris drag star, is honored with a Texas historical marker

A Texas historical marker now stands beside the grave of Barbette, the Round Rock-raised aerialist and drag performer who became a celebrated figure in 1920s Paris. It was placed on June 4, more than half a century after Barbette's death, and is a rare state acknowledgment of a queer Texan's story.

CBS Austin anchor John-Carlos Estrada, who has spent years championing the story, arrived at Round Rock Cemetery for the unveiling with a piece of shimmering pink fabric to cover the marker. Rain had been forecast, but the sky stayed clear as friends, artists and community leaders gathered around. Estrada said he sensed Barbette's presence. "We know the story about the Alamo," he said. "But this is an untold story, and so the fact that we have this designation is really special."

Barbette was born Vander Clyde Broadway and grew up in Round Rock in the early 1900s, when it was a rural railroad and farming town. After his mother took him to see the circus in Austin, he became fascinated with the trapeze and practiced on her clothesline. He finished high school at 14 and applied to join a sister act in San Antonio when one of its performers fell ill. The job required dressing in drag, which troubled neither him nor his mother. Estrada said it takes a special mother to nurture a child's interest and see them as they truly are.

Broadway later went solo under the name Barbette, chosen for its French, androgynous sound. Paris became the performer's home, with engagements on famed vaudeville stages including the Moulin Rouge. Barbette was photographed by Man Ray and counted Pablo Picasso and Josephine Baker among friends. A fall in 1929 ended the performing career, and Barbette went on to work as an artistic director and trainer for circuses such as Ringling Bros.

Late in life, Broadway returned to Round Rock and moved in with a sister and her family. Niece Beverly Weeks recalled outings to the movies and restaurants, with her uncle in silk suits, playing a game of pointing out which men nearby were gay. She said it felt ordinary at the time, and she did not learn how famous he had been until after his death in 1973 from an overdose.

Round Rock named Barbette a local legend in 2015. Estrada became absorbed in the story after reporting on it for CBS and went on to make a documentary short, Barbette + Fontaine, which views Barbette's life through the eyes of drag entertainer Cynthia Lee Fontaine. He is now finishing a book about Barbette, due out next year. Richard Parson said he felt called at the grave to start Round Rock Pride, which regards Barbette as a patron saint because Barbette lived authentically.

Local performers say the legacy still matters. Drag entertainer and activist Sean Marburger, who performs as Xtra, said Barbette's Round Rock roots show that queer people have been part of Texas from the start. Fontaine said the story helps dismantle ignorance and discrimination, and Maxine LaQueene, a drag entertainer and trans advocate, said attempts to suppress queer stories will fail because they are passed down through generations.

In 2024, Estrada and Barbette's family founded the Barbette Legacy Foundation to fund scholarships for young performers and artists. Barbette's great-niece Chris Cahill said it is meaningful for the family name to help more young people go to school. The foundation has given five awards totaling nearly $5,000 over two years, and applications for the next round open early next year. It will hold "Barbette Bash: Cirque du Barbette" on December 12 at The Rosette in Austin to honor this year's recipients.