NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is being lauded for his bravery after writing in his new memoir that he was sexually abused as a child. The Toronto Star has published an excerpt of Singh's book, "Love & Courage," which will be released next week. In the chapter, Singh opens up about the racism he faced as a boy in Windsor, Ont. because of the colour of his skin and his head covering.

The Canadian Press NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the Broadbent Summit in Ottawa on March 29, 2019.

Singh says in the book that a taekwondo instructor who taught him self-defence as a way to fend off bullies — a now-deceased man identified as "Mr. N" — took advantage of him. "Mr. N abused me. He tied his perversion to my performance, which was my primary motivation," he wrote. "It didn't take long for the abuse to seem normal. That's the thing about abuse — it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence." In the excerpt, the NDP leader also wrote about how shame and stigma led him to deny the truth of the experience before coming to grips with the fact that he was a victim. "I would have to accept that the abuse really did happen, that it had taken a devastating toll on me, and that I was not to blame." Read the full chapter at The Toronto Star The NDP applauded its leader for talking about his experience in a statement to HuffPost Canada. "Jagmeet's willingness to open up about his experience with racism and sexual abuse will help others going through the same experience. "His courage to tell his story and brave honesty will help people with shared experiences know they're not alone."

Courtesy Jagmeet Singh Singh attended grade school in Windsor, Ont.

Singh described his childhood in Windsor as "rough" in an interview with HuffPost in 2017. "There was a lot of racism as a brown kid, with long hair and funny-sounding first name.... I got in a lot of fights all the time," he said. "Kids would say: 'You're dirty, your skin is dirty, why don't you take a shower' ... or 'You're not a boy, you're a girl because you have long hair,' and then they would just come up and pull my hair, or just punch me." In the same interview, he shared that his father had been the one to sign him up for taekwondo so that he could defend himself.

Courtesy Jagmeet Singh Singh in an undated childhood photo.

Singh said the bullying forced him to be confident. "That makes you less of a target when you are very sure of yourself," he said. "I tried to carry myself very confidently and I had to try to develop this mentality that people are going to stare at me, they are going to look at me, so I better give them something to look at." He later transferred to a high school across the border in Detroit, after his father became concerned about daily fights at his Windsor school.

Courtesy Jagmeet Singh Singh poses with his parents, who immigrated from Punjab to Canada.

A powerful and important story to read. @theJagmeetSingh, your courage to speak up will fight against stigma, and help so many people know they are not alone. https://t.co/Zjiq75adEC — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 20, 2019

With Singh's openness about his abuse, many on Twitter pointed out that he's continuing to change what it means to be a federal leader.

Finally a leader that understands vulnerability. Canada needs this, not entitlement, from our politicians. — Claudia (@island_cynic) April 20, 2019

Others simply praised Singh for the impact his vulnerability would have on other survivors.

This is a story of courage. So many survivors - young men - suffer in silence and alone. Today, @theJagmeetSingh offers us some hope, that we aren't alone and that we don't need to be. To all those that read this, please do so w/ care. #LoveAndCouragehttps://t.co/k9v6allyEp — Amneet Singh (@amneetbali) April 20, 2019

Hats off to ⁦@theJagmeetSingh⁩ for coming out in public about the sexual abuse he faced. It's often considered a taboo topic in the south-asian society, need to be a braveheart to break this stigma. He's a true hero!! #Respect#LoveAndCourage https://t.co/NieVKh348w — Bobby Sidhu (@gbobbysidhu) April 20, 2019

NDP MP Tracey Ramsey and Independent MP Jane Philpott also applauded Singh for his courage.

Courage is sharing your most painful memories to light a path for others to do the same & fight together for justice & healing. To love ourselves & others we must have that courage to speak up and speak out. Mad respect for ⁦⁦@theJagmeetSingh⁩ https://t.co/2eUu4ZM9u1 — Tracey Ramsey (@traceyram) April 20, 2019

Don't try to read between the lines that this tweet implies anything about my own political decisions. This is simply to say that it takes guts to describe painful personal experiences like this. Speaking up will help others to fight stigma & find healing. https://t.co/oz3pcA3ZIP — Jane Philpott (@janephilpott) April 20, 2019 Singh's memoir will be released Tuesday. Also on HuffPost: