I don't see what the big deal is all about. It only seems natural for leaders and professors from any Church to get together and discuss another members sexuality. Heck, men get together in the lockeroom all the time to discuss matters of homosexuality. See a group of Catholic Priests on the street, decked out in their attire, chances are they are discussing the sexual proclivities of some guy they know. Singling out Dr. Danie Peterson for this discussion about Dr. Michael Quinn's sexuality between another friend and Dr. Quinn's Stake President is unfair. How could this conversation not take place? It's just man talk and such a topic of conversation was inevitable. Sheesh!
As to these gentlemen's sexual proclivities being the true reason for their excommunication rather than their writings, why heck, other than man's natural tendency to discuss homosexuality in groups, we don't care about their writings. Too droll and boring. We like juicy gossip!