Google Removes Cultural Holidays from Calendar Service, Sparking Criticism

Google has removed references to cultural holidays, including Black History Month, Pride Month, Women’s History Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month, from its Calendar service. This move has sparked criticism from users and industry observers, who argue that the removal of these holidays is a step backward for diversity and inclusion.

According to Google, the decision to remove these holidays was made due to the difficulty in manually and consistently maintaining an extensive list of cultural events globally. Instead, the Calendar service will focus exclusively on public holidays and national observances.

This change is part of a broader shift within Google companies, where commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are reassessed amid political and economic pressures. Google has recently revised its approach to workplace diversity policies following executive orders from US President Donald Trump, which directed federal agencies to curb DEI programs.

Despite removing these holidays, Google maintains its commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace. “We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities,” a company spokesperson said.

Social media users have voiced frustration over the removal, particularly as Google had previously pledged to increase Black+, Latinx+, and Native American+ leadership representation by 30%. Users wishing to track events such as Pride Month, Black History Month, and Indigenous Peoples’ Month must manually add them to their calendars.

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