--- a/lib/python2.4/site-packages/roundup/cgi/templating.py
+++ b/lib/python2.4/site-packages/roundup/cgi/templating.py
@@ -1648,6 +1648,8 @@ class DateHTMLProperty(HTMLProperty):
 
         if self._value is None:
             return ''
+        if isinstance(self._value, str):
+            return self._value
         if self._offset is None:
             offset = self._db.getUserTimezone()
         else: