A Central Islip man was charged with a hate crime Friday after police say he beat up two men because they were gay.

Police say Wenzola Roundtree was drunk around 1:15 a.m. Friday when he launched an attack against a group of openly gay men on a Central Islip street corner. Suffolk Detective Sgt. Robert Reecks says Roundtree kicked and punched the men while using anti-gay epithets.

A friend of 31-year-old Roundtree, who did not want to be identified, says the accused acted in retaliation after being attacked by the men. He says the men spit on Roundtree and threw an umbrella at him. He also says Roundtree has nothing against gay people.

Reecks says he doesn?t buy that defense because it wasn?t an even fight.

?These guys were little guys,? Reecks says of the alleged victims. ?They were not big muscular guys, so clearly [Roundtree] knew he was going to be able to beat them."

One of the alleged victims suffered a busted lip and another required nine stitches in his head. They were treated and released. Police say Roundtree has a rap sheet and is being held on $50,000 cash bail.