Chien Joanna Lei (; born 28 November 1958) is a Taiwanese politician.

Early life

Lei's father is , a Republic of China Navy vice admiral who played a prominent role in the La Fayette-class frigate scandal. Joanna Lei studied at National Taiwan University before earning a master's degree and doctorate from Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania in the United States.

Joanna Lei

Political career

Lei, a member of the New Party, was co-nominated by the Kuomintang in the 2004 legislative elections, and won. As a legislator, Lei took an interest in domestic labor and migrant workers. She lost an October 2007 Kuomintang primary, and formally left the party in November. Lei was named a New Party candidate, and lost reelection.

Joanna Lei

Later career

After stepping down from the Legislative Yuan, Lei became the chair of Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor. She launched an unsuccessful independent bid for the legislature in 2012. In 2015, Lei co-founded the Faith And Hope League, and declared opposition to same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Lei has organized petitions to consider the issue of "family protection" via referendum, while opposing the use of referendums to determine support for same-sex marriage. She stated in 2017 that same-sex marriage would "destroy marriage as we know it. Some places are waiting for Taiwan to set the example. If Taiwan falls, then the rest of Asia will fall." In December 2017, Lei succeeded as chair of the National Women's League.

Joanna Lei

References

1958 births

Living people

New Taipei Members of the Legislative Yuan

Members of the 6th Legislative Yuan

21st-century Taiwanese women politicians

New Party Members of the Legislative Yuan

Kuomintang Members of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan

National Taiwan University alumni

University of Pennsylvania alumni

Taiwanese political party founders