Google Calendar users have noticed the removal of default entries for key cultural observances, including Pride Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Indigenous Peoples Month. Effective mid-2024, these events no longer automatically appear, with Google citing scalability issues in manually maintaining a globally consistent list.
The move has drawn criticism, with many viewing it as a downplaying of important cultural moments and a step back from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. This change coincides with a broader trend of DEI rollbacks across the US tech industry, raising concerns about representation and the role of technology in promoting equality.
Google’s Rationale: Scalability vs. Representation
Google Calendar previously included observances such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, and Indigenous Peoples Month. However, these events no longer appear in the calendar’s default settings for 2025. According to a Google spokesperson, the Calendar team had been manually adding cultural moments but found it unsustainable.
They stated that maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable. To address concerns about missing events from different countries and communities, Google decided to exclusively display public holidays and national observances. Users can still manually add observances to their personal calendars.
Impact on Marginalised Communities
The removal of these default calendar entries carries particular significance for marginalised communities who rely on these visual cues for awareness and advocacy. For many, these calendar reminders serve as a starting point for planning events, engaging in discussions, and promoting education around these observances. Without the default inclusion, there is a risk that these cultural moments may become less visible, leading to decreased awareness and engagement.
This shift can inadvertently contribute to the feeling of being overlooked or undervalued, further exacerbating existing feelings of marginalisation. Critics argue that this move disproportionately affects awareness months and observances tied to historically marginalised groups, reducing public recognition of significant social, political, and historical milestones.
DEI Rollbacks and Political Context
The removal of cultural events from Google Calendar aligns with a wider trend of tech companies scaling back their DEI programs. Companies like Meta, Intel, PayPal, and Amazon have adjusted their DEI initiatives. Some link these rollbacks to political pressure. For example, one company removed its DEI program from its latest corporate report. These changes occur amidst growing legal challenges to DEI programs, with some critics arguing that these initiatives have gone too far. Google also faced scrutiny for an error on Google Maps in the United States.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we advocate for equality and inclusivity. We believe in the importance of acknowledging and celebrating cultural diversity. While Google cites scalability as the reason for this change, it’s crucial to recognise the impact such decisions have on representing marginalised communities. Default calendar entries serve as important reminders and acknowledgements of key cultural moments.
By removing these, there’s a risk of normalising the erasure of diverse voices and histories. How can tech companies ensure inclusivity and representation without sacrificing efficiency and scalability, and what responsibility do they have to actively promote equality in their digital spaces?
