diff --git a/gramps/plugins/docgen/odfdoc.py b/gramps/plugins/docgen/odfdoc.py
index 692850e12..0c6f1e1ac 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/docgen/odfdoc.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/docgen/odfdoc.py
@@ -1520,14 +1520,15 @@ class ODFDoc(BaseDoc, TextDoc, DrawDoc):
                 linenb += 1
         self.end_paragraph()
 
-    def write_text(self, text, mark=None, links=False):
+    def write_text(self, text, mark=None, links=False, markup=False):
         """
         Uses the xml.sax.saxutils.escape function to convert XML
         entities. The ESC_MAP dictionary allows us to add our own
         mappings.
         @param mark:  IndexMark to use for indexing
         """
-        text = escape(text, ESC_MAP)
+        if not markup:
+            text = escape(text, ESC_MAP)
 
         if links is True:
             text = re.sub(URL_PATTERN, _CLICKABLE, text)
@@ -1536,6 +1537,19 @@ class ODFDoc(BaseDoc, TextDoc, DrawDoc):
 
         self.cntnt.write(text)
 
+    def write_markup(self, text, s_tags, mark=None):
+        """
+        Writes the text in the current paragraph.  Should only be used after a
+        start_paragraph and before an end_paragraph.
+
+        @param text: text to write. The text is assumed to be _not_ escaped
+        @param s_tags:  assumed to be list of styledtexttags to apply to the
+                        text
+        @param mark:  IndexMark to use for indexing
+        """
+        markuptext = self._backend.add_markup_from_styled(text, s_tags)
+        self.write_text(markuptext, mark=mark, markup=True)
+
     def _write_mark(self, mark, text):
         """
         Insert a mark at this point in the document.