Ray Donovan features openly lesbian character Lena, depicted with competence and dignity. The show also explores complex emotional bonds, notably between Terry Donovan and Damon, with sensitivity, challenging traditional masculinity and implicitly affirming the worth of diverse emotional connections without resorting to stereotypes or degradation.

Ray Donovan features Lena, a long-standing character, who transitions in later seasons. Her journey is depicted with dignity and personal agency, and her identity is affirmed by the narrative. Key characters, including Ray, accept her transition, and her supportive relationship with her partner is highlighted, contributing to a largely positive portrayal.

The show critically examines the Catholic Church, particularly its institutional failures regarding child sexual abuse and subsequent cover-ups. It portrays the profound and lasting trauma inflicted by these actions, highlighting hypocrisy and corruption within the church hierarchy, which deeply impacts the Donovan family's lives and struggles.