NORTH MIAMI – Swinging Richards has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of North Miami Beach claiming the city’s officials are discriminating against gays by attempting to stop nude dancing at the nightclub, open since November 2011.

City Attorney Darcee Siegel notified Swinging Richards that on May 16 the city would begin enforcing a 1994 county ordinance banning nudity in all establishments serving alcohol.

Jamie Benjamin of the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Benjamin & Aaronson is representing Swinging Richards, located at 17450 Biscayne Blvd. Under different ownership, the club had previously operated as Miami Gold, a heterosexual all-nude strip club, dating back to 1988. Swinging Richards is seeking an injunction preventing the city from its planned enforcement of the law.