Kate Forbes has insisted trans women are "biological males" as further questions are asked about her socially conservative views.
The finance secretary's views on the gender reform debate put her at odds with many senior SNP parliamentarians as well as the Scottish Greens, who signed a power-sharing deal with the party.
Asked if she believed a trans woman is a woman, Forbes told ITV Border today: "I believe that a trans woman is a biological male, who identifies as a woman."
When told many of her party colleagues would see such a stance as illiberal, she added: "In a liberal society you can co-exist and have these debates and discussions."
Forbes became the third candidate to enter the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon yesterday but has already faced calls to quit.
The 32-year-old used a series of media interviews to share her views on issues such as equal marriage and gender recognition reform (GRR).
Forbes said today she regrets the pain caused by her comments on equal marriage.
She received criticism from members of her own party after she said she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been in office during the 2014 vote.
Speaking on Times Radio, Forbes said: “I regret enormously the pain or hurt that has been caused because that was neither my intention, and I would seek forgiveness if that is how it’s come across.”
Forbes added that she defends the rights of LGBT+ people to live “free of harassment, fear and prejudice”.
She also insisted her campaign to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister is “absolutely not over” despite a backlash on her equal marriage views
Forbes had said her conscience would not allow her to have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, which passed in Holyrood in 2014.
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