The film features Bobby C., a character whose implied struggle with his sexuality leads to a traumatic sexual assault and eventual suicide. This portrayal links queer-adjacent identity to profound misery and punitive outcomes, without any affirming or positive counterbalance. The net impact is negative.

Saturday Night Fever includes a brief, problematic depiction of trans women. They are introduced as objects of deception, leading to mockery and a violent assault by Tony's friends. The film presents these events without critique, contributing to a negative portrayal where trans identity is a source of ridicule and harm.

The film depicts the Manero family's Catholicism as a source of guilt, judgment, and familial dysfunction. Tony's brother leaving the priesthood underscores a disillusionment with the institution, portraying it as contributing to the characters' struggles rather than offering solace or moral guidance.