The source material features an overwhelmingly LGBTQ+ cast of characters—including a central lesbian relationship between Charlie and Vaggie, gay protagonist Angel Dust, pansexual and asexual figures, and bisexual supporting roles—whose identities and relationships drive emotional arcs, musical numbers, and the core redemption narrative in Hell. Songs performed live explicitly highlight queer romance, identity struggles, and critiques of traditional religious structures and hypocrisy in Heaven, framing acceptance and systemic challenges through identity politics lenses.

Creator Vivienne Medrano has emphasized intentional queer representation where characters are flawed beyond their orientations, making this a deliberate focal point rather than incidental. The live event, hosted by and featuring the voice cast, amplifies these elements without alteration or dilution, turning the Broadway stage into a celebration of the show's identity-driven storytelling.

Audience and online discourse frequently labels the franchise 'woke' due to this saturation of non-traditional identities and anti-normative themes, with the concert serving as an extension that prioritizes message over neutral entertainment. This centrality of activist-aligned representation in casting choices, lyrical content, and overall framing justifies the elevated score, as the event's draw collapses without these ideological components.