During the 1970s and 1980s Janna Zumbrun worked to eliminate discrimination and prejudice against and defend the human and civil rights of lesbians and gays in Austin, Texas. She was very active as a leader or member of several local organizations and commissions including the Citizens for a United Austin, Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus, City of Austin Human Relations Commission, Austin Lesbian Feminist Organization (originally known as the Austin Lesbian Organization) and the Texas Women's Political Caucus. Her work at the local level led to her to being selected to attend the 1980 National Democratic Party Convention in New York.

The City of Austin Human Relations Commission (HRC) advises and consults with the City Council on all matters involving racial, religious or ethnic discrimination and devises practices to promote equal opportunity. It is an advisory body on non-discrimination policies, aid in forming local community groups, investigates complaints of prejudice and discrimination and conduct educational programs. Janna was appointed to the HRC in October of 1975 as an open member of the Austin Lesbian Organization and she held the position until 1981. Soon after her appointment the HRC recommended an equal access Public Accommodation Ordinance that included sexual orientation as one of the protected statuses. She also held the position of chairperson of the Housing Subcommittee of the HRC and was active in crafting the recommendations to City Council concerning the Fair Housing Ordinance in 1977. These recommendations were not adopted by the City Council (a watered down version was passed) and the issue would be taken up again by the Human Relations Commission in the early 1980s.

The Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus (ALGPC) was formed in 1978 to organize Austin area lesbians and gay men to combat arbitrary discrimination on such bases as sex, race, age, physical handicap, economic condition with particular focus on discrimination based on sexual orientation. Janna was a founding member of the organization and served in several capacities within the ALGPC from co-chair to recorder. The organization held speaker events with such guests as the Austin Police Department Liaison Officer and the COA Human Relations Department; endorsed political candidates and held candidate forums; registered public response to discrimination issues and mobilized the gay and lesbian community members to protest; published a newsletter and raised money for lesbian/gay causes.

The Citizens for a United Austin (CUA) was formed in 1981 to fight an anti-gay housing measure proposed by a group called the Austin Citizens for Decency (ACD). ACD collected nearly 20,000 signatures of Austin voters to force an initiative election on an ordinance that would read "It shall not be unlawful to deny housing on the basis of sexual orientation." The Austin City Council set the election to vote on this ordinance for January 16, 1982. Members of the ALGPC approached business and political leaders to form a coalition to fight the proposed ordinance in an effort to make the campaign less like a vote for a lesbian and gay issue and focus on basic civil rights. Janna served as the Campaign Director of the CUA was the only ALGPC member on the board. The proposed measure was rejected by Austin voters with 63% voting against the proposal. Several months later the Austin City Council amended the Fair Housing Ordinance to provide protection on the basis of sexual orientation, age, parenthood, creed and marital status.