Google Calendar users were surprised to find that the platform no longer includes the start of Black History Month. Other cultural observances, including Pride Month, were also removed, sparking criticism online.
Users Express Outrage Over Cultural Observance Removals on Google Calendar
A Google spokesperson explained the reasoning behind the change, stating, “We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing—and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable.” Instead, Google now only displays public holidays and national observances provided by timeanddate.com. Users can still manually add other significant events to their calendars.
Despite this clarification, many users remain upset. Social media and Google support forums have been flooded with complaints. One user on Google’s support forum wrote, “This is shameful. Reinstate these calendar dates!!!” Another user expressed frustration, saying, “These bootlickers have immediately shown us who they are.”
A Shift in Diversity Policies
The controversy comes amid a broader shift in diversity policies across corporate America. Since President Trump’s executive order restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the federal level, several major companies have scaled back similar initiatives.
Google itself has also made changes beyond its calendar. Reports indicate that the company has stopped using diversity hiring goals, marking a shift in its approach to DEI efforts. Critics argue that the removal of cultural observances from Google Calendar aligns with this trend.
Some users believe the change was intentional and politically motivated. “With everything happening in this country, this is a slap in the face to Black and LGBTQ+ communities,” one user tweeted.
Google’s Response and Next Steps
While Google has not announced any plans to reinstate the removed observances, it encourages users to add cultural events to their calendars manually. The company also suggests using third-party calendars to track events that are no longer preloaded.
The backlash highlights how important digital platforms have become in recognizing cultural and historical events. Many users hope that Google will reconsider its decision and restore observances that hold deep significance for millions of people.