• Recent modifications by Google to its Calendar feature, specifically the removal of significant cultural observances, have sparked considerable online discussion.
• Google explained that “managing hundreds of cultural moments” proved to be unfeasible, with these changes initiating in mid-2024.
• Since Donald Trump’s presidency, updates have also been made to Google Maps, including renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America,” in addition to discontinuing diversity hiring initiatives.

The subtle adjustments to Google Calendar have ignited a significant response as societal debates are played out across the internet.

Google has eliminated various cultural commemorations, such as Pride Day, Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jewish Heritage Month, and Indigenous Peoples Month, from its Calendar.

As news of these changes surfaced, which Google indicated began in mid-2024, opinions flooded social media and forums, with reactions ranging from criticism to support.

Users on X labeled the change as “anti-DEI,” while others stated that celebrations such as Pride and Black History Month will persist independently of product updates.

“Just because the calendars are changing doesn’t mean we must follow suit,” remarked a user on X.

Conversely, some users supported Google’s decision. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has campaigned against what he terms “woke policies” in various corporations, expressed his enthusiasm for the change with a fire emoji. Others took the opportunity to thank Google for the modifications.

The reductions in Google Calendar were initially reported by The Verge following user discussions highlighting the shift.

A representative from Google informed Business Insider that “several years ago,” the Calendar team began incorporating “a wider array of cultural milestones” across multiple countries. They noted that feedback indicated some events and regions were overlooked, making it impractical to consistently manage hundreds of cultural moments globally.

The spokesperson confirmed that starting in mid-2024, Google Calendar would focus exclusively on recognized public holidays and national observances sourced from timeanddate.com. Users can still customize their personal calendars to include important dates by manually adding events.

Timeanddate.com did not respond to requests for comments from Business Insider.

While the omission of Pride and Black History Month has generated intense reactions from diverse user groups, Google also removed other notable celebrations, including Teacher’s Day.

These changes in Google Calendar occur amid other modifications made by Google since Donald Trump’s inauguration. Recently, Google Maps has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for American users, following an executive order issued by Trump.

Furthermore, the company has eliminated diversity-related hiring benchmarks. In a recent memo, Google announced it would cease pursuing representation targets and would reassess its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“As a federal contractor, our teams are also reviewing changes required by recent court rulings and executive mandates regarding this issue,” a Google spokesperson stated in a prior communication regarding the company’s DEI strategies.

Other organizations, such as Meta, have likewise adjusted their policies following Trump’s election. In January, Meta revealed it would dismantle various diversity programs and discontinue having a dedicated DEI team, in addition to revising content moderation practices and replacing fact-checkers with community notes.