Joy Ride offers a positive and affirming portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and themes. It normalizes queerness through casual depictions of bisexual and gender nonconforming characters, emphasizing acceptance, sexual freedom, and the importance of chosen family within its broader narrative of friendship and self-discovery.

Joy Ride features a subtle, positive portrayal of gender identity through the non-binary character Deadeye, whose self-discovery includes changing pronouns. While a more explicit queer subplot was cut, Deadeye's understated arc offers a meaningful, affirming representation of LGBTQ+ themes of self-acceptance in the released film.

The film portrays Christian chastity through the character Clarence, treating his commitment humorously and featuring 'unkind jokes' related to Kat's deception about her faith. The comedic framing, without significant counterbalancing positive nuance, positions the portrayal as problematic by making a religious practice a source of comedic difficulty.