Google’s Explanation For Removing Pride Month Is As Empty As Its New Calendar

In a quiet but telling move, Google has erased LGBTQ+ Pride Month from its popular calendar app, along with Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, and other cultural events.

Google claims this decision was made for practical reasons. According to a company spokesperson, the calendar team had manually added a variety of events in different countries but received feedback that some were missing.

“Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world,” the spokesperson told CNBC. “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.” 

Right…How could a company that took in $348.16 billion in 2024—its highest annual revenue ever—manage to sustain its yearly event listings?

The company says it’s now sticking to public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com, a Norway-based company with just 40 employees.

Related: Walmart Becomes Latest Company To Roll Back DEI Policies Amid Conservative Pressure

The timing of this change is hard to ignore. Google recently axed its diversity hiring goals, joining a growing list of corporations rolling back DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Amazon, Meta, and even brands like Walmart and Target have all made similar moves, aligning with a broader pushback against corporate diversity efforts.

It also comes amid a political climate where President Trump and right-wing figures are waging a war on DEI. Google’s decision to scrub Pride Month from its calendar feels less like a neutral tech update and more like a quiet retreat from public support of marginalized communities.

“There’s no reason users should have to add these dates themselves. You could have maintained the same list as always,” one Google Calendar user commented on the company’s support page. “Wonder why it’s just now that it has become unsustainable?” they asked.

For LGBTQ+ people, especially those in conservative areas, Pride Month reminders are a visible acknowledgment of our existence. Google has long positioned itself as an ally, from rainbow-colored logos to parade participation during Pride. But actions speak louder than graphics, and erasing Pride Month from its calendar feels like a deliberate step backward.

Sure, users can manually add June 1st and the other removed events back onto their personal calendars. But let’s be real—removing them sends a clear message. Google’s quiet deletions are speaking volumes.