According to a new study that that ranks states in terms of reproductive and same-sex rights, Massachusetts is only the sixth most liberal state, despite being the only state in which same sex marriages are legal:

New Mexico and New York shared the top spot on the liberal end of the rankings, followed by New Jersey, Washington and California. Ohio and South Dakota were tied for the most conservative policies. . . .

The state lost points on the liberal scale for a law that requires mandatory parental involvement in minors’ abortions and a provision that prohibits state-funded insurance coverage of abortion. The state scored an obvious home run for its gay marriage law.

New Mexico turned out to be somewhat of a liberal darkhorse in the rankings, seizing a tie for the top spot because of expansive laws prohibiting discrimination against gay and transgender people. South Dakota came in last because of the state legislature’s approval of an abortion ban earlier this year.

I suppose that laws are one thing, but if the study would have incorporated the prevailing political opinions of each state’s citizens, something tells me that MA would be ranked higher (more liberal) while CA would be ranked lower (slightly less liberal). Anyway, just food for thought.