An SNP backbencher sparked an angry backlash for suggesting it's "healthy" to debate who should be allowed to have sex.
John Mason said freedom of speech laws allow him to "debate" what consenting adults do in Scotland.
Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, made the outburst in a debate on new Hate Crime Bill at the Scottish Parliament.
And he surprised Green party leader Patrick Harvie by suggesting he would be happy to join in the discussion.
In Holyrood, Mason said: "The Bill specifically protects freedom of expression, so Patrick Harvie and I can continue to debate who should or should not have sex with whom.
"We can discuss and criticise each other's ideas even though we strongly disagree with each other. That is a sign of a healthy society and a healthy democracy."
The two MSPs have previously clashed on attitudes to same-sex marriage and historic pardons for gay men.
Mason, a devout Baptist, has previously claimed: "It seems clear to me that the Bible’s teaching is that a follower of Jesus should not have a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex.
"However, that does not mean I see it as my role to stop everyone else having such a relationship."
Following the latest comment of freedom of speech, Harvie responded: "That was an utterly bizarre comment.
"Who other consenting adults do or don't have sex with isn't any of my business, or John Mason's business, thank goodness. The difference is that he thinks it is.”
Mason was speaking from the backbenches during at Tory-led debate on the SNP Government's hate crime plans on Wednesday.
Mason’s previous controversial interventions include saying creationism should be taught in schools because it can’t be “disproved by science” and suggesting the IRA could be considered freedom fighters.
