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3mo ago

Google Calendar Removes Cultural Observances Like Black History and Pride Months

The company cites sustainability challenges in maintaining global cultural events while critics link the move to broader shifts in diversity policies.

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Image shows icons for the Google apps from Google Map, Google Drive, Google Translate, Google Photo, Google Play, Google Chrome, Google Authenticator, Google Calendar and Google Gmail are seen on a screen in Hong Kong, Hong Kong, on July 31, 2018.

Overview

  • Google Calendar has removed default listings for cultural events such as Black History Month, Pride Month, Women's History Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day, among others.
  • The changes, implemented in mid-2024, were explained by Google as an effort to simplify and standardize its calendar by only showing public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com.
  • Users can still manually add these events to their personal calendars, but the decision has sparked criticism online, with some accusing Google of aligning with anti-diversity initiatives.
  • The move coincides with broader rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs by Google and other major corporations following President Trump's executive orders restricting such initiatives.
  • Google has also updated its Maps for U.S. users to reflect the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' adhering to a Trump administration directive.