Google Calendar Cuts Cultural Events, Sparking Backlash

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Google has removed several significant cultural celebrations, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month, from its calendar platform, prompting criticism from users and advocates. According to a report by The Verge, the tech giant no longer lists these events for 2025, citing sustainability concerns. Madison Cushman Veld, a spokesperson for Google, explained that the decision came after receiving feedback about missing events and the difficulty of maintaining numerous listings across diverse countries. This shift aligns with a broader trend of reduced focus on diversity initiatives within the company.

The move follows recent policy changes under the administration of former President Donald Trump, which have placed pressure on tech companies to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Google has also altered place names in the U.S., such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" and reverting Denali back to Mount McKinley. Social media users have expressed frustration, noting that individuals must now manually add significant cultural events to their calendars, a move that may impact public recognition of these observances.

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