diff --git a/pystache/template.py b/pystache/template.py
index 409bd0bae..a717e3ba9 100644
--- a/pystache/template.py
+++ b/pystache/template.py
@@ -120,13 +120,12 @@ class Template(object):
         return template
 
     @modifier('{')
-    @modifier('&')
     def render_tag(self, tag_name, context):
         """Given a tag name and context, finds, escapes, and renders the tag."""
         raw = get_or_attr(context, tag_name, '')
         if not raw and raw is not 0:
             return ''
-        return cgi.escape(unicode(raw))
+        return re.sub("^<span.+?>(.*)</span>", "\\1", raw)
 
     @modifier('!')
     def render_comment(self, tag_name=None, context=None):