Jason S. Gibson is the Associate General Counsel at Regency Centers Equity One. Regency is the preeminent national owner, operator and developer of neighborhood and community shopping centers, which are primarily anchored by productive grocers and located in affluent and infill trade areas in the country’s most attractive metro areas. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law.
Jason is the Vice Chair of the Section's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee.
December 16, 2020 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Jason S. Gibson
Where are you from? How have your experiences here, or throughout your upbringing, influenced your passions and aspirations today?
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida; and I currently live in a small city (Wilton Manors, FL) adjacent to the northern boundary of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Hailing from South Florida, I have influences of both Southern U.S. culture and Caribbean culture. I had the unique opportunity to grow up with many friends from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds. This perspective has motivated me to mainly work on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What drives you?
Integrity; and the notion that any one person is better or worse than any other. Also, I was sworn into the legal profession by Chesterfield Smith, the President of the ABA in 1973, who is famously quoted as saying “No man is above the law,” regarding Nixon’s Watergate scandal; and I have somewhat adapted this quote as a motivation for my professional activities.
What is one thing most people do not know about you that you feel they should?
I am extraordinarily introverted and was quite shy growing up. I can be social, but most often prefer solitude and quiet – unless I’m fighting for the rights of others.
When you look back, what is it that you want your advocacy and professional career to stand for?
That I worked to achieve equal opportunity, equal access/participation, and fairness for all.
What is one issue which you care about or work most on and why?
The issue that I care about most is fighting discrimination. Given my intersectional identity, there are many barriers on many fronts. I want to make it better for the next person.
What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing this issue today?
That’s an interesting question. I’ll be provocative and say willful ignorance.
In what corners do you find the greatest support in propelling these issues you work on? In other words, who are your most frequent allies?
I most frequently find allies in those who are willing to listen and learn; there’s no one place to find them.
What CRSJ project(s) are you working on? Or, what have you undertaken in CRSJ that you found most rewarding to have worked on? Are there any upcoming events or projects you want us all to know about?
I am currently the Vice Chair of the CRSJ SOGI Committee, as well as being a Commissioner for the ABA SOGI Commission. I am proud to have assisted with the 2020 General Election Voting Rights Toolkit produced by CRSJ. I also look forward to working on issues surrounding racial and ethnic justice through the intersection lens of SOGI and African-American identities.