Pink Lounge owner takes stand at sexual assault trial, says intercourse was consensual

The jury inSkipp Anderson's sexual assault trial was given a graphic primer on the mechanics of gay sex when the Saskatoon nightclub owner took the stand in his own defence Tuesday.

Anderson, who ownsPink Lounge and Nightclub,is accused of sexually assaulting a young man who had passed out after a hot tub party at Anderson's home in 2016.

The alleged victim says that he awoke in bed to find Anderson having sexual intercourse with him. The man said that he was in no state to have consented.

On the stand, Anderson told the seven men and five women on the jury that "gay sex is difficult to do, there has to be a lot of communication."

Anderson said that, had he been sexually assaulting the man without consent or lubrication, "he's going to need stitches."

The jury has heard no evidence of the alleged victim requiring medical treatment.

A crucial divergence

Anderson's version of events correspondedfor the most part with the testimony of Crown witnesses.

He did not dispute that a group of mutual friends, including thealleged victim, went to a movie together before returning to Anderson's home for a hot tub party.

He did not dispute that the young man was very intoxicated and was eventually carried to a spare bedroom in the house.

Where the stories diverge is with Anderson's version of what happened when the other guests left.

'He was initiating sex with me'

Anderson said that, at some point, the young man made his way upstairs to a spare bedroom.

He said that when he discovered the young man, he crawled into bed with theman while wearingboxers, pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. The young manwas still wearing the trunks he wore in the hot tub.

"I was single, lonely and I just wanted to snuggle," Anderson said.

However, he said the young man woke up and they began slowly escalating sexual activity.

"I was laying there and he was initiating sex with me," he said.

Anderson said after having intercourse twice they fell asleep. Anderson said he awoke later to find the young man had gone downstairs and was on the deck, crying.

"He said he was embarrassed and felt dirty," Anderson said.

Prosecutor Tamara Rock will begin her cross-examination Wednesday morning.