Providence Wins Lawsuit Over Strip Club Enforcement Actions

Federal court rules city did not unconstitutionally target adult entertainment venue.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:57pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police badge or handcuffs against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash to create a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A harsh, high-contrast image of law enforcement equipment underscores the legal battle over a strip club's alleged selective enforcement by Providence officials.Providence Today

A federal judge has awarded summary judgment to the city of Providence in a lawsuit alleging the city unconstitutionally targeted an adult entertainment club, Silhouettes, with enforcement actions. The plaintiffs claimed the city's enforcement of COVID-19 regulations, police presence, and licensing decisions violated the club's equal protection rights, but the court found the city had a rational basis for its actions and did not demonstrate discriminatory intent.

Why it matters

This case highlights the legal challenges cities can face in regulating adult entertainment businesses, with the court ruling Providence's enforcement actions were content-neutral and applied broadly to entertainment venues across the city, not a targeted campaign against the strip club.

The details

The plaintiffs, Lola's Rendezvous, Inc., operated the adult entertainment club Silhouettes from March 2021 until its closure in October 2022. During this time, the club had several encounters with the Providence Police Department related to COVID-19 regulations, police details, police presence, and the city's Board of Licenses denying the club's license. The plaintiffs claimed these enforcement actions violated their equal protection rights, but the court found they failed to identify any comparator evidence showing Silhouettes was treated differently than other similar establishments. The judge also ruled the plaintiffs did not provide evidence of discriminatory intent, either direct or circumstantial.

  • Silhouettes operated from March 2021 to October 2022.
  • The lawsuit was filed sometime after the club's closure in October 2022.

The players

Lola's Rendezvous, Inc.

The company that operated the adult entertainment club Silhouettes.

Providence Police Department

The law enforcement agency that conducted enforcement actions against Silhouettes.

Providence Board of Licenses

The city agency that denied Silhouettes' license.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy

The federal judge who awarded summary judgment to the city of Providence.

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What they’re saying

“The Plaintiffs identify no comparator evidence from which a jury could conclude that Silhouettes was intentionally treated differently than other similarly situated establishments, or that even if they were treated differently, the City had no rational basis for doing so.”

— Judge Mary S. McElroy, U.S. District Court Judge

“Even under the less demanding standard applicable to racial discrimination claims, the Plaintiffs have failed to present evidence from which a reasonable jury could infer discriminatory intent.”

— Judge Mary S. McElroy, U.S. District Court Judge

What’s next

The plaintiffs have the option to appeal the court's decision.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the high bar plaintiffs must meet to prove unconstitutional selective enforcement or discriminatory intent by a city in regulating adult entertainment businesses, even when the enforcement actions appear to disproportionately impact a particular racial community.