Kate Forbes has faced a backlash after she stopped short of supporting a complete ban on gay conversion therapy.
The finance secretary, fighting a close race with Humza Yousaf to succeed Nicola Sturgeon, described the practice as "abhorrent" during a live debate on Sky News.
The Scottish Government set up an expert group in 2021 to look at the banning of conversion practices, which aim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Legislation is due to be introduced at Holyrood by the end of this year.
Asked if she would bring in a complete ban on conversion therapy – including the voluntary use of the practice – Forbes stopped short of saying she would.
“My commitment to you is to look carefully at (banning voluntary conversion therapy),” she said.
"What I’m not going to do, because I don’t think any government has done that yet, it is to precede the normal process of legislation.”
Asked by presenter Beth Rigby if a gay adult man should be allowed conversion therapy, Forbes said: "Well, it's his choice. but I do not think we should allow conversion therapy.”
She added: “My position on this is that people should be allowed to live as they choose in a free, tolerant society, and I think the conversion therapy Bill should reflect that.:
Forbes' comments on "choice" were seized upon by supporters of Yousaf and politicians from across the parties.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie hit out: "Anti-LGBTQ+ conversion practices are abhorrent and abusive by nature. There is no such thing as a non-coercive conversion practice and never can be.
"Anyone who argues that people should be able to consent to this form of abuse is clearly failing to understand the issue.
"Nobody should be told that they are not good enough or that they should be ashamed of who they are.
“The Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government committed to a watertight ban on all conversion practices. That is what we believe in and is the commitment we would seek from any new First Minister."
Marco Biagi, an SNP councillor in Edinburgh, said: "What does this 'choice' look like? Probably a gay man who's been closeted for a while, who's internalised messages that gay is harmful or immoral, who wants to be 'normal' so desperately he turns to a counsellor or suchlike who claims that, if he tries hard, it can all go away.
"Those of us who had a difficult time of accepting ourselves will have, at some point in that process, felt this idea's insidious temptation.
"But it is abuse, plain and simple. It's preying on the vulnerable. It shouldn't be acceptable in today's age and leaders must know that.
"Conversion 'therapy' isn't a person being locked in a room and told they're straight while they rattle the door and try to escape. It's darker than that.
"It's an authority figure persuading you that this is what you want. A 'consent' exemption therefore means no ban at all."
Labour MP Anneliese Dodds, the shadow women and equalities secretary, said: "You cannot choose to be abused.
"Both the SNP and Conservatives are tying themselves in knots over conversion practices. Labour would just get on and ban them."
Lloyd Melville, an SNP councillor on Angus Council, said: "How any LGBT+ person, or ally, could look themselves in the mirror and vote for this is beyond me."
Tory MP Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Sexual Orientation is not a pathology - it doesn't need treating or curing.
"Conversion therapy is quackery packaged up by sinister charlatans to snare and profit off bigotry.
"You cannot consent to torture, be it physical or mental. Conversion therapy is fraudulent and abuse."
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