February 3, 2026
‘Biology matters’: Trail Life USA CEO says that boys and girls need protected spaces to thrive
Mark Hancock: ‘When we refuse to define reality, the vulnerable are the ones who lose’
GREENVILLE, S.C. — As the Supreme Court considers a case that could require states to allow biological males to compete in women’s athletics, the broader question extends beyond sports alone: Can sex-based protections survive if society refuses to define what male and female mean?
For Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA— the nation’s largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization — the issue is deeply familiar. Trail Life was founded on the conviction that boys and girls need distinct spaces to grow, compete and be formed with intention, and that erasing biological categories ultimately undermines the protections they were designed to provide.
At stake in the current case is Title IX, the landmark 1972 law that safeguards women and girls from sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. The plaintiff, a transgender female, is seeking to broaden Title IX to treat gender identity the same as biological sex — an approach critics argue would undermine the very distinctions Title IX was designed to protect.
Commenting on the case, Hancock pointed to a striking exchange during Supreme Court arguments:
“A strange thing happened at the Supreme Court recently. Justice Samuel Alito asked a basic question: ‘What does it mean to be male or female — especially when the law provides sex-based protections like separate athletic teams?’ The attorney’s response was startling: ‘We do not have a definition for the court.’
“That isn’t just awkward. It’s absurd. And it reveals where we are as a culture: attempting to enforce fairness, privacy, and equal protection while refusing to define the very categories those protections depend on.”
Hancock says the debate over women’s athletics reflects a broader cultural pattern: removing the boundaries around sex-specific spaces.
“Women’s sports exist because biology matters,” Hancock noted. “And girls do not become strong women by pretending the differences between male and female don’t exist. They become strong because society protects the spaces where they can strive, compete and flourish on a level playing field.”
Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock says the issue is bigger than sports.
“This is about whether we still believe in reality,” Hancock said. “Because once you erase the meaning of male and female, you don’t create equality — you destroy the very protections that allow boys and girls to thrive.”
Hancock says the erosion of sex-based protections reflects a broader cultural pattern: removing boundaries, lowering standards and replacing truth with feelings.
“When you dissolve gender, you dissolve excellence,” Hancock said. “You don’t get liberation. You get confusion. You get mediocrity. And the vulnerable lose first.”
Women’s athletics is one example — but it is not the only one.
Boys and girls both need spaces where they can grow into strength without distortion.
“Boys need spaces where masculinity is not treated as a problem to solve, but as a strength to shape,” Hancock said. “And girls need spaces where womanhood is protected, honored and allowed to compete without being erased.”
Hancock pointed to decisions by major institutions to erase boy-focused spaces entirely.
“Scouting America chose to remove the boundary of a boys-only program,” he said. “That is one reason Trail Life exists.”
“We like to say the ‘Y Matters,’ because there is a why behind the Y chromosome,” Hancock added. “This isn’t politics. It’s truth. And truth is the foundation of strong families, strong communities and strong future generations.”
Hancock emphasized that clarity is not cruelty.
“We can treat every person with dignity while still refusing to surrender reality,” he said. “Boundaries are not hatred. Definitions are not oppression.”
“A society can be compassionate without being confused,” he added. “But confusion always comes at a cost.”
As the case approaches a ruling, Hancock says the deeper issue is unavoidable:
“You cannot raise strong men and women in a culture that refuses to define male and female, you cannot protect women’s sports while refusing to define what a woman is, and you cannot build courage, excellence or confidence on a foundation of confusion.”
Trail Life USA will continue standing for truth — and for the next generation — by giving boys the challenge, mentorship and clarity they need to become the courageous men God created them to be.
Trail Life offers a bracing response to a culture seeking to erase distinctions between boys and girls. As the largest Christ-centered, boy-focused scout-type organization in the country, Trail Life celebrates what makes boys unique and provides them with a safe space to explore the concept of masculinity while building relationships with mentors and peers, learning leadership skills and exploring the great outdoors.
Trail Life USA has received praise from some of today’s top Christian voices, including Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Mike Huckabee, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Family Life, Promise Keepers, the American Family Association, and many others.
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop today, or Start a Troop in your community. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Trail Life USA’s K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.
Discover more about Trail Life USA at TrailLifeUSA.com, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, or Vimeo.
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To interview Mark Hancock from Trail Life USA, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
