OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska man is recovering Monday after being attacked while defending his gay friends from being harassed and called “faggots.”

Ryan Langenegger said he and his two friends, Josh Foo and Jacob Gellinger, were eating at an Omaha grill around 2 a.m. early Sunday morning when three men began harassing them because Gellinger was dressed in drag, reported WOWT-TV.

Kellenegger said the men then told Gellinger he was “disgusting,” followed by other gay slurs.

“I stepped in and said hey we aren’t looking for any trouble and as I’m talking to him one of his friends from the corner of my eye comes up and hits me in the face and I stand up and he also swings at my other friend and misses and I just look at him and say why? There’s no reason fro this,” said Kellenegger.

Watch a report from WOWT-TV:

“What Ryan did meant a lot to me and I thank him for standing up for his friends and accepting them for who they are in every way,” said Foo, in a statement. “He’s a great friend.”

The victims said they hope police will be able to obtain surveillance footage from the eatery and the attackers credit card information to locate the attackers so that they will face charges.