Facebook has angered some San Francisco drag queens when it said they must use their real names rather than their stage names on Facebook profiles.

Facebook locked the accounts of several drag queens and told them they must use their real names on their personal profiles and set up separate fan pages for their drag personas.

That includes Sister Roma from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who was forced to change her name on Facebook to her legal name, Michael Williams.

Facebook said in a statement: "If people want to use an alternative name on Facebook, they have several different options available to them, including providing an alias under their name on their profile, or creating a Page specifically for that alternative persona. As part of our overall standards, we ask that people who use Facebook provide their real name on their profile."

San Francisco Supervisor David Campos said: "Facebook may not be aware that for many members of the LGBT community the ability to self-identify is a matter of health and safety. Not allowing drag performers, transgender people and other members of our community to go by their chosen names can result in violence, stalking, violations of privacy and repercussions at work."

Facebook replied: "Claiming to be another person, creating a false presence for an organization, or creating multiple accounts undermines community and violates Facebook's terms."