The Deuce offers a largely positive portrayal of its diverse LGBTQ+ characters, depicting them with dignity, complexity, and agency. Despite facing significant external obstacles like prejudice, violence, and the AIDS crisis, the narrative maintains an empathetic stance, affirming the worth of their lives, relationships, and the communities they build.

The Deuce portrays transsexual characters, primarily sex workers, with a gritty realism that highlights their profound struggles with prejudice, violence, and poverty in 1970s/80s New York. Despite the often-tragic circumstances, the show maintains an empathetic stance, depicting their resilience and humanity, framing societal obstacles as external forces, and affirming their worth.