UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM

Interview #1051
CZYSCON, JANICE

CZYSCON, Janice (1953-)
Senior Editor for Engineering Professional Development in the College of Engineering
At UW: 1984-present

Interviewed: 	2009 (2 sessions) 
Interviewer: 	Linda Lenzke
Index by: 	Kelly Rupp
Length: 	1 hour, 43 minutes
Series: 	Madison’s LGBT Community, 1960s to present

Abstract: In her 2009 interview with Linda Lenzke, Janice Czyscon details her life in Madison. She spoke of the time period between the 1980s and present and of the following topics: lesbianism, feminism, parenting, and community outreach. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the UW-Madison Oral History project on Madison’s LGBT Community, 1960s-Present.

Key Words: Madison (WI), feminism; Equal Rights Amendment, Madison Institute for Social Legislation, Alternative Family Ordinance, GLADE, GLISTEN, National Organization for Women, Fair Wisconsin, Lesbian Moms Network.

First Interview Session (July 20, 2009): Digital File

Time	Keywords
00:00:00	Start of Interview/Interviewer’s Introduction

00:00:14	Question: Background? Answer: Czyscon was born in Chicago, IL and lived there until age 19. She has one older brother, one younger brother. Her dad worked for railroad where she regularly visited him. He died when she was 18, before she came out as a lesbian.

00:03:59	[no question] Czyscon came out to her mom in 1981 because she was invited to appear on the Sally Jesse Raphael show. Her mom was most concerned about how the relationship would affect her partner’s two daughters. Czyscon came out via email to her older brother around 1993-1994. He didn’t agree with her lifestyle but didn’t want it to interfere with their relationship. 

00:06:45	Question: How did you become aware of being a lesbian?  Answer: Around 8 or 9 years old, Czyscon noticed a connection to girls. The emotional/physical attraction was realized around sophomore year of high school. She had crushes on girls but never really acted on them. She never felt “horrible” about these feelings. 

00:9:54	Question: Talk about your early relationships. Answer: Czyscon had two same sex relationships. The first started in about 1973. Czyscon and a friend moved to western Illinois and their relationship turned into a romantic one. They were active with the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and National Organization for Women. 

00:15:14	[no question] In 1978, Czyscon moved to Madison and connected with the Madison Coalition for the ERA. The group met weekly at Lyzistrata Restaurant. Czyscon met Crystal at one of these meetings during the fall of 1979. Their relationship started in the spring of 1980 and continued to the present day.

00:20:02	[no question] In December of 1980, Czyscon and Crystal moved in together. Crystal had two children, one was two and the other five. Czyscon appreciated the opportunity to be an active parent of the children. It was a learning and memorable experience. Not all lesbian parents had an equal-parent relationship like Czyscon and Crystal. 

00:25:26	Question: Talk more about parenting and activism Answer: Czyscon’s personal activities made political statements. She took Crystal’s biological children to the doctor. She was an out Girl Scout leader. She had an impact for the better on parents in the 1980s and their attitudes towards gay people. Czyscon attended the Lesbian Moms meetings early on in the relationship, starting around1981. It was a way to get together with people in similar circumstances. It was also good for the children. 

00:29:18	[no question] Around 1983, Czyscon started working on the Alternative Families ordinance with the Madison Institute for Social Legislation group. She also worked with The United. She became interested in AIDS issues and fundraising. In about 1993 she became involved in GLADE, Gays, Lesbians, and Allies for Diversity in Education. GLISTEN was part of a national movement that developed out of GLADE. They brought the documentary, It’s Elementary, to Madison. Teachers and students from Hawthorne School were featured in the movie that discussed gay and lesbian issues in schools. 

00:36:50	Question: What was the impact of your activism on your daughters? Answer: The girls protected Czyscon and Crystal from any backlash they experienced at school. Some school children taunted them, but others also had gay parents.

00:40:42	Question: How did your original family accept you and your new family? Answer: Czyscon’s family didn’t discuss their feelings about her family. When her family first met Crystal and the daughters, everyone got along well. As the aunts aged, they were not as accepting of the new family. Czyscon’s older brother had a gay son which complicated their relationship. Czyscon’s younger brother accepted her but they had differing political and social interests that hindered their relationship. 

00:49:38	Question: Did your dad have a similar relationship with your brothers? Answer: Czyscon was not sure. She had a good relationship with him. They went fishing together. 

00:52:22	Question: Work life? Answer: Czyscon came out at work, the UW College of Engineering, during her first job interview in 1984. She showed her writing samples which had many activist stories. She put family photos on her desk and brought the children into work. No colleagues gave her any trouble. She encountered more sexism than homophobia when trying to get more women into engineering. The department supported her fundraising efforts. People on committees around the University were also supportive. 

00:59:13	Question: Activities outside of activism? Answer: When they were young, they played softball, volleyball and basketball within the lesbian community. Her friendships have changed but Donna Miller and Mary Kay have been constant. She made friends through political work for Fair Wisconsin and the University Domestic Partnership benefits, or AIDS rides. 

01:05:02	Question: Fair Wisconsin and gay marriage? Answer: Czyscon and Crystal planned to register for domestic partner benefits. She knew women who were not able to take advantage of their partners’ benefits. They planned to get married in San Francisco but didn’t because the law changed. They also considered going to Iowa but there were too many legal technicalities.

01:12:00	[no question] Czyscon encouraged activists to put egos aside and not compete but work for the common good.

01:13:30	End of First Interview Session

Second Interview Session (July 27, 2009): Digital File

Time	Keywords
00:00:00	Start of Interview/Interviewer’s Introduction

00:00:56	Question: Relationship with Crystal? Answer: At the start of relationship, Czyscon and Crystal developed their individual identities as lesbians, as a couple, and as parents. The early 1990s was a difficult time for the LGBT community in Madison because of outspoken groups against LGBT people. The LGBT community as a whole was affected. Action Wisconsin was formed partly as a result of this time.

00:9:00	[no question] Czyscon and Crystal had to look to their own community for affirmation and validation. Lesbian Moms Network helped fill that role. No traditional support makes it difficult for couples to stay together. More people tried to undo their relationship than to keep it going. 

00:12:40	[no question] In retirement Czyscon looked forward to free time to enjoy her relationship, camping, traveling and bicycling, among other activities. She planned to continue to volunteer, especially with elderly women. 

00:14:54	Question: What issues will the LGBT community face in the future?  Answer: Czyscon thought retirement and health care issues would continue. She said LGBT people need to continue educating others about their relationships.

00:18:40	Question: What are you most proud of? Answer: Though it wasn’t always easy, Czyscon was proud of having a long-term, committed relationship that raised two successful children. She was also proud of taking care of her mother as she aged. Politically, she was proud of her work in support of the Equal Rights Amendment in Washington D.C. Locally, she was proud of making changes in the schools and on campus. 

00:30:08	End of Second Interview Session

End of Oral History #1051