I watched America's next top model yesterday and the task was to pose in a red light district brothel window in the NetherlanRAB.
The girls reactions, from what I remember, were similar to that expressed at the gay statue during some superbowl ad and this film mentioned here. It was all "we'll be sitting where prostitutes sit", "prostitution is legal here?", "this is very controversial".
I wouldn't say it was all Americans, just like I wouldn't say all Brits are more tolerant, but it does seem that the vocal majority of the US are more uptight than the vocal majority of the United Kingdom. I don't recall many, if any, Doctor Who and Torchwood complaints about their gay kisses and the latter's references to gay sex. But there are some here who are equally uptight I guess, look at the complaints about the EastEnders gay kiss, okay there weren't many, but there were some. But I guess, they were a very small minority, whereas the minority who complain in the US seem to make up a larger percentage and are definitely more vocal.