I checked, the order of events was the opposite. First von Beust announced Schill's attempted blackmail, denying corruption (e.g. Schill's claim that he gave a job to his alleged partner in life just like Schill did) but not confirming or denying his relationship (which I consider an even more clever publicity move than Wowereit's); the unapproved outing by the father (in this Die Welt article) came two weeks later - and all of this was two years after Wowereit's self-outing.
Now, speaking of the CDU and gays, von Beust is one example, Anette Schavan another - there is a reason she felt the need to deny the rumours (her voters); and despite all the denials from his camp, the lesbian rumours may well have tipped the balance towards Oettinger in 2004. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
The other is an inner party decision. There a heterosexual candidate has clearly an advantage in conservative circles against a homosexual one. This was the case for Schavan. Gemach, gemach
Schavan's case is more complicated and mean in that she denied being homosexual, it was only rumours spread by some circles. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
