It turns out gay really does mean happy -- especially when it means homosexual.

A study of the happiest states in the union, dubbed the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, found the number of gay residents helped to boost a state's happiness score.

And somehow Utah still ended up on top of the list. Apparently happiness is also a bowl of Jell-O (the official state snack). Rounding out the top 10 happiest states were Hawaii, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington, Massachusetts, California and Arizona.

To pull together the list, the folks at Gallup asked questions about participants' well-being, "including overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction."

The presence of a significant number of gay people was linked to a general state of tolerance. Study researcher Jason Rentfrow of the University of Cambridge in England told Live Science an increased tolerance promotes free expression, which in turn allows people to feel happy.

In addition to happy homosexuals, resident rich people went a long way toward helping states top the score. Foreign-born residents are good for a state too, proving Anita had it right in West Side Story - life can be bright in America.

Kicking a state to the bottom of the list: neurotics. So Larry David, please steer clear!

But he's welcome in the bottom-dwelling "sad states" of Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Tell us: Is your home state a happy place, or is it sad and misunderstood?